Social media calls out hypocrisy following Johnny Sexton's suspension

The decision means that the veteran flyhalf will only miss his side's Rugby World Cup warm-up matches against Italy, England and Samoa before returning to action.

Sexton's suspension came after he went on the field after Leinster's Champions Cup final loss to La Rochelle and swore at match officials.

Now following a long disciplinary process, the skipper has had his punishment handed down and it's understandably caused plenty of debate on social media.

That appears to have been the overriding opinion on the platform as journalist Neil Fissler did not hold back over the decision, ranting "the sport is a joke".

"Johnny Sexton gets three games. The sport is a joke. The administrators are incompetent clowns," he tweeted as Sexton will be available for the World Cup.

South African pundit Xola Ntshinga referenced Rassie Erasmus, who was given a much longer ban for merely questioning officials: "Johnny Sexton has been handed a three-match ban for abuse of match officials. Cause tweeting at match officials is worse than actually swearing at them in person¦ nothing to see here."

Tight Five Rugby also offered their view on Monday morning, writing: "I know everyone has already had their say on the Johnny Sexton ban but I'll join. Three weeks is far too light for abusing officials. Also makes me wonder, if there wasn't a World Cup approaching, would the ban have been longer? I think so."

Sexton's absence from the three World Cup warm-up matches does leave Ireland with something of a headache though in terms of him being at peak fitness.

"Today's news means that Johnny Sexton will not have played in almost six months if/when he takes the field against Romania in Ireland's World Cup opener. Whatever plans they might have had to manage him through the tournament are out the window, he has to play every game now," said Ruaidhri O'Connor.