Disciplinary hearings: Owen Farrell and Vunipola banned for high tackles

The dynamic duo, once considered linchpins of the team, are now in hot water due to their hazardous tackles that prompted a swift response from match officials.

Initially presented with yellow cards, the situation escalated rapidly as the new 'bunker' review system, elevated the penalties to red cards. The gravity of their actions has triggered a wave of uncertainty, putting their World Cup aspirations in jeopardy.

The punitive measures for such perilous tackles are multi-tiered, with the consequences ranging from a two-match sideline stint for less severe cases to a more substantial ban of up to six games for more egregious offences. The fate of Farrell and Vunipola hangs in the balance as they await their respective hearings.

For 31-year-old Owen Farrell, who also carries the weight of England's captaincy, a virtual appearance before a tripartite independent judicial committee awaits today.

Meanwhile, the spotlight will later shift to Vunipola, whose hearing will unfold in front of an entirely distinct panel. The disparity in panels underscores the seriousness with which these infractions are being scrutinised.

With the Rugby World Cup beckoning, the timing could hardly be worse for England. Their final preparation match, slated against Fiji on 26th August, stands as the last opportunity to fine-tune strategies and solidify team dynamics before the monumental tournament kicks off.

As speculation mounts and the sporting world holds its collective breath, a crucial question looms large: just how lengthy will the bans be for these two star players? The answers remain elusive, leaving fans and pundits alike on tenterhooks as the countdown to the World Cup narrows down.

We queried a former participant in the RFU citing system regarding his projections for the duration of suspension anticipated for each player.

Vunipola was sent off against Ireland for a shoulder-to-head challenge on prop Andrew Porter on Saturday.

He predicted a four game ban. As a result, the powerhouse number 8 would miss the first three games of the 2023 Rugby WorldCup against Argentina, Chile and Japan.

Reports suggest that a lengthy ban could result in Vunipola being dropped from the squad with either Alex Dombrandt or Tom Willis being recalled to the squad.

Following an initial Disciplinary Committee hearing for England number 10 Owen Farrell, who received a red card during the Summer Nations Series match between England and Wales on Saturday 12^th August, World Rugby lodged a formal appeal against the Committees’ decision to downgrade the red card to a yellow, appealing for the red card to be upheld.

The Appeal Committee met on Tuesday 22^nd August and unanimously determined that in the original hearing the Disciplinary Committee should have considered the attempt of the player to wrap his opponent in the tackle. This point did not feature in the original decision.

The failure to attempt to wrap was judged to be an important element of the Foul Play Review Officer’s (FPRO) report and had led to an upgrading of the referee’s yellow card to a red card during the match.

As this element did not feature in the original decision, the Appeal Committee decided it was in the interests of justice to hear the case afresh on that key point alone, which included hearing from the player.

Following the review by the Appeal Committee of this key element, it was determined that the FPRO was correct in his decision leading to the red card. The Appeal Committee subsequently determined that the tackle was ‘always illegal’.

When applying the terms of World Rugby’s Head Contact Process, no mitigation can be applied to a tackle that is ‘always illegal’.

The Appeal Committee therefore considered that the Disciplinary Committee’s decision to downgrade the red card to a yellow card had been manifestly wrong, which led to the Disciplinary Committee’s decision being overturned, the appeal brought by World Rugby being allowed, and the red card upheld.

In considering sanction, the Committee applied World Rugby’s mandatory minimum mid-range entry point for foul play resulting in contact with the head (six-matches). Taking all considerations into account, including the player’s acceptance of foul play, clear demonstration of remorse and his good character, the Committee agreed a four-match suspension.

The Appeal Committee accepted submissions on behalf of the player that the Ireland v England match on 19 August 2023, for which the player was voluntarily stood down would be included as part of the sanction. Therefore, the suspension applies to the following matches: