Wigan Warriors prop makes decision on whether to appeal ban following Ireland’s defeat to Lebanon

Wigan Warriors’ brilliant prop Liam Byrne was cited three times by the match review panel for incident that occurred in Ireland’s 32-14 defeat to Lebanon on Sunday.

He was given two one-match bans for separate counts of dangerous contact and a caution for other contrary behaviour.

They were just three of the nine citations from the game which included an alleged “testicle squeeze” on Leeds Rhinos star James Bentley which went unpunished due to “inconclusive footage.”

It was a fiery affair with Byrne joined fellow front row Jaimin Jollife in hot water with him also receiving a ban for a high tackle.

Meanwhile, Fiji’s Tui Kamikamica also copped a one-match ban.

Now a decision has been made on whether they will appeal these bans.

Byrne will accept his two-game suspension which shouldn’t impact his Wigan campaign in 2023 with the first game served this weekend and the other likely to be taken up pre-season.

The only player appealing is Jollife.

The statement released by the Rugby League World Cup read: “Following on from the decisions made by the Match Review Panel on 24 October, Tui Kamikamica (Fiji), has accepted the one match penalty notice for Grade A Dangerous Contact and Liam Byrne (Ireland) has accepted the two one match penalty notices for Grade A Dangerous Contact.

“Jaimin Jollife (Ireland) is challenging the one match penalty notice which he was issued for Grade A High Tackle.

“The challenge will be heard this evening at an independent judiciary tribunal. The outcome will be published on the RLWC2021 website.”