Freddie Steward red card rescinded

England full-back Freddie Steward has been cleared to play after his red card for a dangerous challenge on Hugo Keenan in Saturday's Six Nations defeat by Ireland was overturned.

Steward faced a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday night for his tackle to the head of Keenan that ended the full-back’s afternoon at the Aviva Stadium.

However, while it was decided the challenge was an act of foul play, the panel felt there were sufficient mitigating circumstances to view it as a yellow card offence only.

The #AgainstTheHead panel discuss the Freddie Steward red card - and the wider context of what it means for the game #RTErugby pic.twitter.com/6ZzolhHcIO

England’s frustration at the onfield decision by referee Jaco Peyper will have only have increased knowing that Steward should have only sat out just 10 minutes of the game rather than the entire second half.

Steve Borthwick’s men showed resolve in the face of the Leicester full-back’s dismissal, which drew an incredulous "red card?!" response from Owen Farrell, before being overrun 29-16.

But the hearing noted in its statement that "match officials are required to make decisions under pressure and in the heat of a live match environment".