Billy Vunipola goes to school after his red card… but what is that? World Rugby consultant and former World Cup final referee ALAIN rolland explains
- Billy Vunipola attends tackle school to get his ban on a dangerous tackle reduced
- The number 8 hopes to return in time for England’s World Cup match against Japan
- Former World Cup final referee ALAIN ROLLAND explains what tackle school is
England’s World Cup plans suffered another major blow last weekend when Steve Borthwick’s lone specialist No. 8, Billy Vunipola, was suspended for three games for a dangerous tackle.
But the striker has agreed to attend tackle school in an effort to cut his suspension by a week. It means Vunipola will be available to face Japan after England’s World Cup opener against Argentina on September 9.
Below, World Rugby consultant and former Rugby World Cup referee ALAIN ROLLAND tells Mail Sport everything you need to know about the tackle school.
What is tackle school?
The program is part of rugby’s disciplinary process and is only used in the elite level 15-on-15 game, where head injury assessment takes place.
The tackle school is offered to players who have committed a dangerous tackle involving contact with an opponent’s head. It is intended to help players improve their technique and gain a better understanding of what foul play entails.
England No. 8 Billy Vunipola is attending tackle school to have his ban for a dangerous tackle reduced
World Rugby adviser and former World Cup referee ALAIN ROLLAND (pictured in the 2007 World Cup final) tells Mail Sport everything you need to know about the tackle school
Why do players go?
If a player receives a red card during a match or is cited afterwards, a panel will decide whether the tackle meets the red card threshold and whether the player deserves a suspension.
Players are sometimes given the option to participate in the tackle program – this will reduce their ban, along with a guilty plea – although Owen Farrell was unable to do so as he has completed the course before.
A player who commits a very dangerous tackle cannot be offered the option of the program.
How does it work?
A form is filled out detailing the facts, the perceived errors of the tackler and an overview of the drills he or she will be doing to address them.
The player will then have a one-on-one assessment of the incident with their coach.
Steve Borthwick will now have to do without Vunipola and captain Owen Farrell against Argentina
So for Billy Vunipola, they will discuss his main contact with Ireland’s Andrew Porter, why it happened, what the technical error was and the decision making process on the pitch.
Player and coach then discuss training drills and techniques to work on to prevent recurrence.
The pair then work on those drills, looking to see if the player is showing progress in their technique.
Video footage of the player performing the exercises is then sent to World Rugby, who will decide if the player passed. If they don’t, their ban will not be reduced.
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