SNS GroupGlasgow centre Stafford McDowall will miss both legs of the 1872 Cup against Edinburgh after being given a three-week suspension for making “reckless contact with the eye” of Toulon’s Facundo Isa in Sunday’s Champions Cup match.
The incident was missed by the officials during the match at Stade Mayol, which the French side won 30-29, but the EPCR received a retrospective complaint from match citing commissioner Deker Govender earlier this week alleging the Scotland international’s actions were deemed to reach the threshold of a red card.
McDowall’s case was heard via video conference by an independent disciplinary committee on Thursday and he accepted he had made reckless contact with the eye.
The offence was deemed to be at the low end of the scale of seriousness, with an entry point of six weeks’ suspension subsequently reduced to three on grounds of McDowall’s “good disciplinary record and timely acceptance of the charge”.
McDowall will be free to play from January 13, meaning he will miss Sunday’s showdown with Edinburgh at Hampden, the return match at Murrayfield the following Saturday and then the Champions Cup clash at home to Racing 92 on January 10.
The centre’s absence over the festive period is offset by the return to contention of wing Kyle Steyn and full-back Ollie Smith after long-term injury lay-offs.
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