Owen Farrell should face a lengthy suspension and learn to improve his tackling technique, claims former Wales flanker Alix Popham

Owen Farrell has been told he will face a lengthy suspension to improve his tackle as the England captain’s World Cup captain’s fate hangs in the balance.

Farrell was sent off on Saturday for a high shot at Wales’ Taine Basham at Twickenham and will face a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday to learn his fate.

The fly-half’s previous track record of similar offenses – he was handed a three-match suspension for another high shot earlier this year – means Farrell’s latest suspension could be up to six weeks.

It is likely that Farrell will be ruled out at the very least from England’s remaining warm-up matches with Ireland and Fiji and the World Cup pool opener with Argentina.

He can also be suspended from more pool games. Former Wales fullback Alix Popham – a campaigner for improving player safety after being diagnosed with dementia at a young age as a result of his rugby career – believes this should be the case.

Former Wales star Alix Popham claimed the broadcast was proof that Farrell had learned nothing from previous incidents

Popham is calling for improving safety in rugby after being diagnosed with dementia at a young age during his own playing career

“It seems players of the stature and reputation of Farrell and Johnny Sexton never get the full penalty for a tackle like the one we saw over the weekend,” said Popham, who now works with rugby welfare groups Progressive Rugby and Head for Change. .

“Farrell has been slightly let go in the past and I hope that is not the case this time. The game against Wales was not the first time and it is clear that he has not learned.

“It will be devastating for him if he gets a long suspension and misses games at the World Cup, but he needs to control his tackling technique and at the moment it’s clear he’s not.

“Punishments need to be put in place to curb this kind of behaviour. I don’t think Farrell will go out and personally hurt players. But it’s clear that he keeps getting his tackling technique all wrong.

“He goes too high, too often, but this is a bigger problem than just one player. It’s nothing personal against Farrell. In rugby we still see too many high tackles endangering the well-being of another player. The penalties should be significant so that players are taught a lesson.

“Farrell clearly hasn’t changed from previous similar incidents and I don’t think he will unless it is instilled in him with a long suspension.”

Farrell’s likely suspension means George Ford is set to start number 10 in England’s warm-up with Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.

Marcus Smith is another option for head coach Steve Borthwick to consider.

Farrell will face a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday where his sentence for the offense will be handed out

In the absence of the England captain, George Ford is expected to start in his place for the World Cup warm-up against Ireland on Saturday

Wales fullback Liam Williams – a former teammate of Farrell at Saracens and the Lions – said on Monday his tackle on Basham was not intentional.

“I think rugby could use a driving licence-like system. If you get caught speeding too many times, you accumulate points and eventually get banned,” said Popham.

‘Something similar could work in rugby. With every ban you collect points and if you reach a certain threshold you miss the rest of the season.

“The work we do with Progressive Rugby and Head for Change is about protecting today’s players from serious brain injury. Part of that is eliminating dangerous tackles in matches, but also reducing the amount of contact players make during training. That remains an important point of attention for us.’