Ireland's Cian Healy was handed a two-week ban for stamping on England's Dan Cole during their Six Nations clash in Dublin earlier this month © PA Photos

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Tournaments/Tours: Six Nations

Teams: Ireland

Ireland prop Cian Healy will be available for his side's Six Nations clash with France next month after winning an appeal against the timing of his recent ban.

Healy was suspended for three weeks for stamping on England's Dan Cole during their meeting in Dublin earlier on February 10 but disciplinary chiefs extended the period of suspension to four weeks due a to the fact that a rest week in the Championship would mean he missed only one match. As a result he was poised to sit out both their defeat to Scotland last weekend and the date with France on March 9.

However, Healy argued his ban should have started on the date of the incident with his representatives also stressing their belief that Ireland's player welfare system - that would have dictated that the player was not available for Leinster's PRO12 clash on the Six Nations rest week -was being unfairly punished by the first decision.

Six Nations tournament officials have confirmed he has won his case and as a result his suspension will expire at midnight on March 3. A statement read: "The player had argued, among other things, that by extending the three-week suspension over four weekends (to take account of the first break weekend in the RBS 6 Nations Championship) was not permissible under the relevant regulations."

Tom Court started at loose-head against the Scots in Healy's absence with Dave Kilcoyne used as a replacement in the second half. Healy, a leading candidate to tour with the British & Irish Lions later this year, is expected to reclaim his starting spot for the France game with Kilcoyne making way.

Appeal successful, 3week suspension will finish on 3rd march, so now available for selection v France. Very happy with this. #church

— Cian Healy (@ProperChurch) February 27, 2013