James Ryan handed three-match suspension after red card review

Ireland and Leinster lock James Ryan has been hit with a three-match ban following his upgraded red card against South Africa, ruling him out of the province’s Investec Champions Cup opener against Harlequins next week.

Ryan was initially shown a yellow card in the 19th minute for an illegal clearout on Malcolm Marx during last Saturday’s Nations Series match.

Referee Matthew Carley referred the incident for review, and the Foul Play Review Officer later upgraded it to a 20-minute red card under current World Rugby protocols.

He appeared via video link before an independent disciplinary panel chaired by Wang Shao-ing, alongside Bogdan Zebega and Val Toma. After assessing the incident under Law 9.20a, the panel upheld the red card and applied a mid-range entry point of six weeks.

Because Ryan accepted the decision, had a clean disciplinary record and demonstrated mitigating factors, the committee applied the maximum 50 percent reduction. 

His ban could be reduced by a game if Ryan successfully completes World Rugby’s Coaching Intervention Programme which is aimed at modifying specific techniques and technical issues that contributed to the foul play.

He will now be unavailable for the following games

– Dragons v Leinster (URC) – November 28, 2025
– Leinster v Harlequins (Champions Cup) – December 6, 2025
– Leicester Tigers v Leinster (Champions Cup) – December 12, 2025*