Ewels on Ryan tackle: 'Split-second thing that went wrong'

Charlie Ewels says his high hit on James Ryan was a "split-second thing that went wrong" and has added his voice to calls for a more nuanced punishment for accidental collisions.

Leinster and Ireland lock Ryan remains out of action following the head-on-head collision that resulted in a red card for the England forward at the start of their Six Nations meeting three weeks ago.

Bath captain Ewels was banned for three games and also took part in a World Rugby coaching intervention programme aimed at improving tackle technique.

"In the moment it was: there's a knock, he went down, we played on a bit, he stayed down, I didn’t know why, and then everything stopped," Ewels, giving his version of the tackle, said in The Times.

"None of their lads or our lads said anything. It was when the replay went up: 'Oh no, my head has hit his head.’

"A lot of it was to do with my entry height. He passes the ball, I’m thinking I’m tackling him, then I’m thinking I’m trying to tackle Johnny Sexton. I was coming up again, and got caught in that horrible halfway house.

After just 82 seconds, England are down to 14 men. Charlie Ewels receives a red card for this challenge on James Ryan.