Leinster wing Fergus McFadden has been hit with a three-week ban after appearing before a disciplinary committee on Wednesday afternoon.  

The PRO12 Rugby Disciplinary Committee met in Edinburgh, after McFadden was cited by an independent citing commissioner for stamping or trampling on an opponent in the Guinness PRO12 match between Leinster and Connacht at the RDS on New Year's Day.

In a statement, it was acknowledged that in appearing before the commission, McFadden accepted that "he had committed an act of foul play and that it would have warranted a red card".

The committee reviewed video footage in reaching their decision, finding that the Leinster player "acted recklessly and that the offending merited a mid-range entry point [...] which carries a five-week playing suspension".

However, given that he recognised his wrongdoing and that he had a previously clean record, the suspension was reduced to three weeks, meaning that he would be out of action "up to and including Sunday 24 January 2016".

That will see McFadden missing the matches against Ospreys in the Pro 12, as well as the dead rubbers against Bath and Wasps in the Champions Cup although he has the right to appeal the decision.