Ireland’s prop resources hit ahead of Six Nations as Ulster’s Tom O’Toole pays heavy price for red card against Munster

Tom O’Toole has been suspended for six games for the red card he received against Munster, shutting him out of the province’s remaining Champions Cup pool matches and the first round of the Six Nations.
It’s a high price for the prop to pay after being disqualified for a reckless clearance on Alex Nankivell.

The contact resulted in a lengthy suspension for the Munster centre, and the type of action O’Toole was found guilty of is being closely monitored by officials, who are looking for players dropping weight on an opponent at the ruck or targeting the lower limbs.

O’Toole’s suspension has been retroactive to include the Christmas win over Connacht, and he will miss Ulster’s trip to Leicester, home game against Exeter Chiefs, and meeting with Zebre Parma, all of which he would have missed if he had been part of Simon Easterby’s squad, which will be preparing for the Six Nations in Portugal that weekend.

However, O’Toole will not be on board since he has been suspended for the matches against England at home and Scotland away, despite Easterby indicating to URC officials that the 26-year-old would have been included in the Irish Six Nations squad, which will be announced in the next fortnight.

Ulster will be without the prop who starts their biggest games at tighthead, while O’Toole was designated Finlay Bealham’s backup for Ireland’s November defeat to New Zealand and victory over Australia, as well as covering loosehead against Fiji.

Uncertainty about Tadhg Furlong’s fitness adds to the idea that O’Toole’s suspension is a setback, albeit Leinster’s Thomas Clarkson has impressed this season, while Oli Jager is back fit and may strengthen his prospects with some strong performances for Munster in the coming fortnight.

Furlong has not played since October, but Leinster are cautiously optimistic about his return this week. Dan Sheehan is another player who is expected to return to action soon.

O’Toole will be available for Ireland’s remaining Six Nations games after admitting to an act of foul play that resulted in a red card.

That admission earned him 40% mitigation, with judicial officer Sheriff Kathrine Mackie determining that the incident warranted an initial 10-week punishment. There was no additional mitigation after receiving a red card for foul play in 2022.