England captain Owen Farrell banned following a length disciplinary hearing.
The Saracens fly-half has been handed a four match ban after he was cited for his dangerous tackle against Gloucester in the Gallagher Premiership.
This will be reduced to a three week ban if the player completes the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.
As a result, Farrell could be available for their Six Nations opener with Scotland.
Farrell was cited following the game against Gloucester Rugby on Friday 6 January for dangerous tackling, contrary to World Rugby Law 9.13. Farrell accepted foul play but challenged that it met 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 ban if the player completes the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme,
Farrell will miss the following games:
14.01 v Lyon
22.01 v Edinburgh
28.01 v Bristol
19.02 v Leicester Tigers*
* Removed on successful completion of World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.
Some fans were shocked to see Owen Farrell banned for such a short period.
One fan wrote: “Got off lightly… again”
“They wouldn’t be happy until he kills someone on the field,” commented a second.
Owen Farrell tackle:
Kevin Sinfield statement:
The new England defence has called on the team to make sure they tackle at a lower height.
Sinfield’s comments were made before Farrell’s controversial collision with Jack Clement of Gloucester, but the incident is likely to reinforce Sinfield’s efforts to promote a safety-first mentality and increase discipline within the England team.
“I agree [with high tackles resulting in red cards] – quite rightly they are,” Sinfield said.
“Tackle height is something we worked on for a long long time at Leicester (where he and Borthwick previously coached).
“There is mitigation in some of these but ask anybody who worked with me at Leicester and they will understand that they’ve been coached to tackle low.
“The sooner we can educate, develop and work with younger players on tackle height, it makes the game safer for everybody. My first role as a coach is to provide as safe an environment as I can. That includes how we practise tackling.
“Everything is a balance. You run the risk if you tackle high of getting it wrong. I’d much rather we tackle low rather than a) somebody getting hurt or b) us losing somebody.”
Owen Farrell facts:
- The Saracens star went to school with England teammate George Ford
- His education began in rugby league – he joined Wigan St Patricks at the age of eight
- He became the youngest ever player to appear in English professional rugby, making his debut aged 17 and 11 days. This record was later beaten by schoolmate Ford
- It’s well known that Owen is the son of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. However, it’s less commonly know that his uncle Sean O’Loughlin is also a rugby league legend, winning 34 caps for Great Britain between 1993 and 2009
- He was not at first registered as a Farrell, but took mum Colleen’s family name of O’Loughlin. The couple married in 1995, changing Owen’s surname to Farrell the following year.
All-time ‘abolute b***ard’ XV
15 Israel Folau (Tonga)
14 Yoann Huget (France)
– Stamping on players heads
– Gouging another player
-Faking injuries
– Generally being an absolute shithousenull
13 Tana Umaga (New Zealand)
12 Brian Lima (Samoa)
11 Sevu Reece (New Zealand)