Toomua out for six months, Earls banned for two weeks and misses Ireland opener
Leicester Tigers’ star Australian centre Matt Toomua, who was lucky to escape a red card for his illegal tackle on Glasgow’s Finn Russell a couple of weeks ago, has been ruled out for six months with a knee injury.
The 26-year-old made his long-awaited Tigers debut at Scotstoun in the Champions Cup opener, which Glasgow won 42-13, and was fortunate to only be yellow carded for the dangerous tip tackle on the Warriors playmaker in the first-half of the European clash.
The 33-times capped former Wallaby was hurt during the first-half of last Sunday’s Pool 1 win against Racing 92 at Welford Road.
The Tigers tweeted that Leicester rugby director Richard Cockerill had confirmed that Toomua faces knee surgery.
Meanwhile, Ireland international Keith Earls has been banned for two weeks after being sent off against Glasgow in the European Champions Cup at the weekend. It means the Munster wing will not be available for Ireland’s autumn Test series opener against World Cup holders New Zealand in Chicago on 5 November. Earls was dismissed by French referee Jerome Garces for a dangerous tackle on glasgow hooker fraser Brown at Thomond Park.
Despite being reduced to 14 men after just 19 minutes, Munster went on to win the game 38-17. Earls pleaded guilty to the offence, and in a statement, EPCR said: “In upholding the red card decision, the (disciplinary) committee found that the offence was at the low end of World Rugby’s sanctions and selected four weeks as the appropriate entry point.
“As there were no aggravating factors, the committee then reduced the sanction by a maximum of two weeks due to Earls’ timely guilty plea, expression of remorse and clean disciplinary record, before imposing a suspension of two weeks.
“He will be free to play on 7 November.”