Sawt Falasteen - Irish Six Nations hopes hit by Aki ban

The 35-year-old received a six match ban, two suspended, from an independent disciplinary committee for comments he made to the referee during and after his province Connacht's 34-23 defeat by Leinster in the United Rugby Championship match last Saturday.

The committee found the 68-times capped Aki -- a 2023 world player of the year nominee -- had "engaged with the match official team after the game on several occasions".

The New Zealand-born back will miss Ireland's Six Nations daunting opener against title holders France in Paris next Thursday, plus the home match a week later against Italy and the away clash with England.

Aki, who begins his four-game ban with Connacht's URC game this weekend, had already been left at home when the Irish flew to Portugal for a training camp.

The uncapped Ulster centre Jude Postlethwaite had replaced him.

Head coach Andy Farrell's problems did not end once they landed in Portugal.

Fullback Hugo Keenan, who scored the Farrell-coached British and Irish Lions series-sealing try in Australia last year, broke his thumb.

The 29-year-old, who like Aki has been a pivotal figure for Farrell since he took over as head coach for the 2020 Six Nations, had only just returned to training having not played a competitive match since the Lions tour.

Their absences add to Farrell's problems with key players already ruled out.

Aki and Keenan's fellow Lions, combative prop Andrew Porter, centre Robbie Henshaw and livewire wing Mack Hansen.

The Irish secured the Six Nations Triple Crown last year but were soundly beaten by France in Dublin and finished third in the table.

D.Qudsi--SF-PST