DONNACHA RYAN will face an independent Six Nations disciplinary committee in London today after being cited by the independent citing commissioner, Jean Etienne Bernard of France, for allegedly stamping on an opponent contrary to law 10.4(b) during last Saturday's match between Ireland and Samoa, writes Gerry Thornley.

Although no details were provided of the incident, it appeared to happen in the 70th minute, two minutes after Ryan (right) replaced international debutant Devin Toner, and also seemed innocuous enough.

Ryan was one of the those Irish players rucking after a pick-and-go carry by Tom Court, who had been tackled by Manaia Salavea, when Ryan’s left foot lands once on the lower midriff of the Samoan openside flanker. Sanctions for stamping range from two weeks to nine plus for a top end offence.

The disciplinary committee will be chaired by Roger Morris (Wales), assisted by Simon Thomas(Wales) and Achille Reali (Italy). The disciplinary hearing for Ti’i Paulo, the Samoa hooker who was cited for two alleged dangerous tackles in the match between Connacht and Samoa in Galway last Tuesday, will also be held in London today.