Wales U20s captain Alex Mann has been suspended for three weeks after being sent off in the Six Nations encounter against England U20s.
But the hugely promising young back rower has been offered the chance to apply to take part in a coaching intervention programme that would reduce his ban by a game.
He saw red for a shoulder to the head of his opposite number Emeka Ilione during the first half of Wales’ 43-14 defeat at Doncaster last Friday.
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An independent disciplinary panel found the Welsh skipper had committed an act of foul play that was reckless as the result of poor tackle technique with the impact made on the face of Ilione coming from Mann’s shoulder.
World Rugby’s mandatory mid-term entry point for such contact to the head is a six-week suspension. However, the committee cut the sanction to three weeks after taking into account mitigating factors including Mann accepting the red card issued by the referee and his remorse for the incident, plus “the player’s honest and respectful conduct, and the player, until this incident, having a good judicial record”.
The Welsh youngster’s playing schedule over the three weeks covers Cardiff’s Welsh Premiership match against Aberavon on March 5 and Wales U20s’ games against France five days later and against Italy on March 20.
But he will be able to substitute the final match of his ban for involvement on a coaching intervention programme — meaning he’s set to be available for Wales U20s’ game with Italy.
He was dismissed in the 29th minute of his team’s 43-14 defeat at Castle Park. As he went to put in a tackle on Ilione, Mann caught his opponent to the jaw area.
After being alerted to the incident by her TMO, Irish referee Joy Neville checked the replays at the side of the pitch and decided there were no mitigating factors and so reached for a red card.
The independent judicial committee comprised chair Helen Morgan (New Zealand), Sarah Smith (Scotland) and Chris Smith (New Zealand.
Mann admitted that he had committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card.
Having him available for the final round of the campaign will please the U20s coaches, with Mann arguably Wales’ top-performing player in the games with Ireland and Scotland.
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