Owen Farrell decision savaged by host of rugby stars and ex-World Rugby vice-chairman as players point out Tonga player George Moala has been banned for 10 weeks for his tackle while England captain escapes suspension
Owen Farrell’s decision has come under fire from scores of rugby stars and ex-Vice-President of World Rugby as players point out Tonga player George Moala has been suspended for 10 weeks for his tackle as England captain escapes suspension
- Amazingly, Owen Farrell was released after a red card for his high tackle
- George Moala, the Tongan center, has been suspended from the World Cup after tipping off
- International stars pointed out the glaring holes in rugby’s disciplinary process
The international rugby community is almost unanimously in turmoil over the decision to release Owen Farrell following his high tackle and red card against Wales.
The England captain is free to play at the World Cup after a disciplinary committee ruled Jamie shoved George Taine Basham, who was subsequently hit by Farrell’s shoulder during England’s warm-up at Twickenham.
It’s a decision that has left the rugby community – including Mail Sport’s rugby journalists – baffled and the backlash is mounting, with numerous international stars and even ex-World Rugby vice-chairman Agustin Pichot weighing in.
Many point out that Tonga’s George Moala has been handed a 10-week suspension for a tip-tackle against Canada that has ruled him out of the World Cup.
They feel the rugby disciplinary process is not fit for purpose and many in particular labeled the Farrell decision as ‘a joke’.
Owen Farrell was shown a red card for this tackle, but was not suspended for any game
Many fans and ex-players pointed out the problem with rugby’s disciplinary system
Instagram page ‘Rugbyhighlights15’ shared a recreated image of Farrell’s high tackle with the words ‘no ban’ over it and Moala’s with ’10 weeks ban’.
Australian star Joe Tomane and Samu Kerevi liked the post, along with New Zealand’s Shannon Frizzell and Tongan duo Ben Tameifuna and Malakai Fekitoa.
Lima Sopoaga replied to the video of Moala’s tackle, writing: Ten weeks before. Seems reasonable given the bans handed out at this point. Oh wait…’
Former Bath, Clermont Auvergne and England full-back Nick Abendanon wrote: ‘Absolute mockery of the game #freeGeorge.’
Tongan winger Vaea Fifita encouraged World Rugby to ‘treat everyone the same’, with the country’s captain Sonatane Takulua questioning the news of Farrell’s exit.
It was widely expected that Farrell would be banned from at least part of the World Cup, but the decision was reversed after a three-hour hearing with representation from a top lawyer.
His postponement was greeted by uproar in the rugby world, with Sir Clive Woodward calling the game a ‘laughter’.
After his case was heard by a full Australian panel, Farrell, who has served three previous suspensions for dangerous tackling, was cleared to play in this weekend’s match against Ireland in Dublin.
Moala, on the other hand, was guilty of a different kind of tackle, lifting his opponent past the horizontal line and then releasing him, causing him to fall dangerously to the ground.
While the two tackles were different, the fact that there was a 10-week difference in the penalty is at the heart of the inconsistency and opaque disciplinary process that has angered many fans and players.
