Johnny Sexton attempted to throw Jack Nowell under the bus during disciplinary hearing

Sexton, aged 38, will be ineligible to participate in the fixtures against Italy, England, and Samoa. However, he will be able to join Ireland for their World Cup opener against Romania on September 9th.

This penalty was imposed on Sexton after he confessed to misconduct directed at match officials subsequent to Leinster's defeat to La Rochelle in the Heineken Champions Cup final held in May.

During the hearing, Sexton's lawyer argued the Jack Nowell's tweet ("worst refereeing decision I have ever seen") should be considered precedent for not handing out a ban.

However, this controversial play backfired. The panel "disagree with core aspects" of the decision to fine Nowell and send him on a ref course.

The disciplinary committee of European Professional Club Rugby as a result deemed Sexton's conduct "confrontational and aggressive towards and disrespectful of the match officials."

Furthermore, Leinster has been given a suspended fine of £7,500. Both the club and Sexton possess the right to appeal these decisions, but they must do so by Wednesday at 16:00 BST.

Sexton, who plans to retire after the World Cup in France, was unable to participate in the final on May 20th due to injury but entered the field after the match concluded.

Leinster suffered a 27-26 loss in the Dublin final, and Sexton engaged in a verbal exchange with South African referee Jaco Peyper and other match officials following the game.

On Thursday, he attended an independent disciplinary panel led by Christopher Quinlan KC via video conference call.

Ireland's initial World Cup warm-up encounter is scheduled against Italy on August 5th, followed by matches against England and Samoa on August 19th and 26th respectively.

Their first World Cup match will take place on September 9th against Romania in Bordeaux.

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Could it be anybody else to start? Farrell fits the label “our guy” better than most, meaning you love to hate him unless he’s in your squad. Then you’d go to the end’s of the earth to defend him.

The England captain, also known as 'Shoulder boy' for his high tackling, does himself no favours with his poor tackling technique.

Although he's currently serving a two-match ban, the fact he often seems to get away with it doesn't help either.

The Saracens star went to school with England teammate George Ford

His education began in rugby league – he joined Wigan St Patricks at the age of eight

He became the youngest ever player to appear in English professional rugby, making his debut aged 17 and 11 days. This record was later beaten by schoolmate Ford

It’s well known that Owen is the son of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. However, it’s less commonly know that his uncle Sean O’Loughlin is also a rugby league legend, winning 34 caps for Great Britain between 1993 and 2009

He was not at first registered as a Farrell, but took mum Colleen’s family name of O’Loughlin. The couple married in 1995, changing Owen’s surname to Farrell the following year.

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Biggar is the epitome of players you hate until they are on your team.The way the fly-half continues to moan to referees vociferously has seemingly only got worse throughout his career. It got so bad that popular online personality and diehard Scotland fan Glove39 made a video called ‘birdman’ mocking the way in which he always raises his arms in frustration to officials.

White has become arguably the most unpopular player in world rugby over the past 12 months..

Last year, White fell about like a lion had attempted to rip off his face after Faf de Klerk accidentally made contact with it while attempting to dislodge the ball out of his hands as he attempted a pass.

After consulting with the television match official, referee Paul Williams adjudicated that this warranted a yellow card for de Klerk.

This decision sent the world of rugby into meltdown, with criticism coming from all quarters aimed at White for bringing the game into disrepute.

The world Cup-winning lock is undoubtedly world-class, but he is also one of the dirtiest players in the sport. If your team has played against him, you will not be a fan. A proper sh**house, but huge biceps.

The expert in unsportsmanlike behavior. Sexton is skilled in exaggerating contact or distracting officials, knowing precisely when to employ his repertoire of underhanded tactics.

His most recent example of on-field nouse came against Wales just last weekend. The yellow card handed to Liam Williams in the 65th minute for a high hit on Sexton took a while to come as it was reviewed from multiple angles by the officials.

Wales fans piled in on Sexton after the Williams sin-binning, with one writing: 'Sexton play acted a head injury. Blatant cheating.'

Another Wales fan vented: 'That Liam Williams yellow card shows why rugby will be dead in a few years – nothing wrong with Liams body shape and Sexton play acting sums up how rugby has drastically changed for the worse. It’s a mockery to the real injuries.'

Another commented on Sexton being seen winking after the card, and said that his behaviour would "destroy the spectacle that is International rugby"