Porter citing dismissed after yellow card in Irish win in NZ

DUBLIN (AP) — Ireland prop Andrew Porter has escaped further sanction after breaking the cheekbone of All Blacks lock Brodie Retallick in Wellington last weekend.

Porter and Retallick clashed heads in the 50th minute of the third test on Saturday. Porter was yellow-carded and Retallick was replaced. He’s out for up to eight weeks, missing the Rugby Championship.

Ireland won 32-22 for a historic series win in New Zealand.

Porter was cited after the game for a dangerous tackle. At his disciplinary hearing, he admitted to foul play but didn’t consider it a red card offense.

The judiciary agreed on Tuesday, saying the foul “did not meet the red card threshold due to the absorbing nature of the tackle.”

The citing was dismissed.

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