Munster have lodged an appeal with the European Rugby Cup (ERC) against the decision by an Independent Disciplinary Committee to suspend hooker Jerry Flannery for eight weeks.
The province claims that contrary to last week's ruling, Flannery did not 'deliberately' stamp on Clermont Clermont-Auvergne's Julien Bonnaire in Munster's penultimate European Cup pool five game at Parc des Sports Marcel-Michelin on January 13th.
Bonnaire required treatment and stitches after the incident but was able to continue in the match.
Appealing the decision today, Munster chief executive Garrett Fitzgerald said: "After further consideration of the incident, having again spoken to the player, having again studied the video of the incident and taken legal advice, we feel obliged to appeal the findings, of the Disciplinary Committee.
"We do accept that his (Flannery's) boot did make contact but we are fully satisfied that the action was not deliberate."
If the ban is upheld Flannery will miss the entire Six Nations with Ireland but will return in time for the European Cup quarter-final against Gloucester at Kingsholm on Saturday, April 5th.
Flannery has been capped 21 times for Ireland and has scored three tries.
Clermont's Alexandre Audebert has also appealed his ban from the same game. The flanker was found guilty of stamping on Ronan O'Gara and also banned for eight weeks.
