Rugby: Ireland back to miss All Blacks clash after ban

Keith Earls of Munster leaves the field after being red-carded. Photo / Getty

Ireland international Keith Earls has been banned for two weeks after being sent off in a European Champions Cup game, forcing him out a clash with the world champion All Blacks in Chicago.

Ireland opens its test series against the World Cup holders in Chicago on November 5.

Earls was dismissed by French referee Jerome Garces for a dangerous tackle on Glasgow hooker Fraser Brown during last Saturday's Champions Cup encounter at Thomond Park.

Tournament organisers European Professional Club Rugby announced Earls' suspension following a disciplinary hearing in London on Wednesday.

Apart from the All Blacks clash, he will also miss Munster's Guinness PRO12 appointment with Ulster in Belfast later this week.

Earls pleaded guilty to the offence, and in a statement, EPCR said: "In upholding the red card decision, the (disciplinary) committee found that the offence was at the low end of World Rugby's sanctions and selected four weeks as the appropriate entry point.

"As there were no aggravating factors, the committee then reduced the sanction by a maximum of two weeks due to Earls' timely guilty plea, expression of remorse and clean disciplinary record, before imposing a suspension of two weeks."