England captain Owen Farrell is handed four-week ban for high tackle
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England captain Owen Farrell receives a four-week ban after being summoned for a tall tackle on Gloucester wing Jack Clement… but the fly half is still available for the opener of the Six Nations against Scotland.
- Owen Farrell received a four-week ban after being cited for high tackle
- The Saracens opener can reduce it to three weeks by taking a training program
- Farrell was not initially chastised for his tackle on Gloucester star Jack Clement.
Owen Farrell has been given a four-week ban for a dangerous tackle but will be available to start England’s Six Nations campaign next month.
Farrell was cited for a high kick on Gloucester’s Jack Clement during last Friday’s Premiership clash at Kingsholm after he escaped without penalty on the pitch.
Saracens No 10 went on to kick the winning goal at Kingsholm. An RFU disciplinary panel decided that Farrell’s tackle on Clement warranted a short-term suspension in what will be a huge sigh of relief for New England head coach Steve Borthwick.
England star Owen Farrell has been given a four-week ban after being cited for a high tackle
Farrell’s suspension will be reduced from four weeks to three if he completes a World Rugby training intervention programme.
It means he will miss Saracens’ games against Lyon, Edinburgh and Bristol. But his ban will end in time for him to start for England against Scotland at Twickenham on February 4.
An RFU statement on Wednesday morning said: ‘The case of Owen Farrell, Saracens, was heard last night by an independent disciplinary panel chaired by Philip Evans KC with Becky Essex and Mitch Read.
‘Farrell was cited after the game against Gloucester Rugby on Friday 6 January for a dangerous tackle, contrary to World Rugby Law 9.13.
A disciplinary hearing was held on Tuesday to determine his high ticket to Jack Clement.
‘Farrell accepted foul play but disputed that he exceeded the red card threshold, however the panel upheld the charge and Farrell received a four match ban. This will be reduced to a three week suspension if the player completes the World Rugby Coaches Intervention Programme.
Farrell has been penalized twice before for dangerous tackling. In 2020, he was suspended for five weeks after being ejected for a “totally unacceptable” tackle on then-Wasps flywheel Charlie Atkinson.
The fly half was not penalized during the match between Saracens and Gloucester on 6 January.
Borthwick is set to name his first England squad for the Six Nations since succeeding Eddie Jones on January 16 and is sweating over the fitness of some key players.
Hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie (ankle) and winger Tom Curry (hamstring) are Championship doubts, though another start in Marcus Smith is close to returning.
Director of sales rugby Alex Sanderson confirmed on Wednesday that Curry is unlikely to be able to face Scotland or Italy in the first two rounds, but could be ready for Wales on February 25.