Owen Farrell free to face Ireland as red card overturned on appeal

15.08.2023 - 13:31 rte.ie

England captain Owen Farrell is free to face Ireland on Saturday after his red card against Wales was not upheld by a disciplinary hearing.Farrell was sent off in a 19-17 World Cup warm-up win at Twickenham on Saturday when his yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Taine Basham was upgraded to a red by the 'Bunker' review system.But the hearing decided that a "late change in dynamics" due to Jamie George’s involvement in the contact area "brought about a sudden and significant change in direction from the ball carrier".Using this mitigation, it was decided by the all-Australian panel that Farrell – who was expected to face a mid-range sanction of a six-week suspension – should have been sanctioned with a sin-binning only.England had feared he would miss the pivotal opening World Cup group clash with Argentina in Marseille on 9 September but Farrell could now line out against his father Andy's Ireland side at the Aviva Stadium this weekend. Watch Ireland v England in the Summer Nations Series on Saturday from 4.45pm live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the RTÉ News app or listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport

Rugby World Cup Sport Rugby England Farrell on appeal as Owen Farrell Jamie George Argentina Australia Ireland

The harsh reality of the supposed "justice" of England captain Owen Farrell's eventual four-week suspension for his dangerous tackle on Welsh flanker Taine Basham, is that Tuesday's appeal verdict is nothing to celebrate.

Billy Vunipola joins Owen Farrell in being banned for start of World Cup

Billy Vunipola has joined Owen Farrell in being banned for the start of England’s World Cup campaign after receiving a three-week suspension for his red card against Ireland.

Owen Farrell hit with four game ban after appeal

Owen Farrell has been handed a four game suspension after his red card in this month's test match against Wales was reinstated, meaning he will miss the opening two matches of England's World Cup campaign.

England dealt World Cup blow as Farrell red card upheld

England captain Owen Farrell will miss the first two matches of the Rugby World Cup after an independent disciplinary hearing upheld his red card on Tuesday, handing the flyhalf a four-match suspension including Pool D fixtures against Argentina and Japan.

England stars Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola face disciplinary hearings

England’s Rugby World Cup ambitions could be badly dented later today, with two key players facing sanctions that may rule them out of the opening weeks of the tournament. Both Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola are staring at suspensions after being sent off in England’s last two warm-up tests. Vunipola goes before an independent disciplinary hearing over a dangerous tackle against Ireland at the weekend. Any potential sanction could be announced straight after the hearing or on Wednesday, leaving England to sweat over the fate of the only true number eight named in their 33-man squad for the tournament, which kicks off on 8 September. Farrell received a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Wales loose forward Taine Basham, which was later upgraded to a red during the match on review. A Six Nations Rugby independent judicial committee reduced it back to a yellow but World Rugby has appealed the surprise decision. It means the England captain faces an independent disciplinary panel for the second time in a week, amid widespread criticism of the initial decision on one hand and condemnation of the coverage of the case on the other. World Rugby’s appeal is also being heard today but again with no date or time given for the announcement of the decision.