The moment has arrived. The rugby world has been waiting for confirmation on the length of Owen Farrell’s ban following his red card against Wales on Saturday.
Well, no ban will ensue as the England captain has been cleared to play again immediately.
It was during England’s warm-up match at Twickenham that the international captain forced his side down to just 12 players with an unnerving shoulder hit on Wales’ Taine Basham.
The shoulder-to-head contact resulted in an immediate yellow card, leaving the England skipper to take his place on the touchline alongside the other ‘naughty boys’ in Freddie Steward and Ellis Genge.
His place on the plastic chairs was not to last, however, as he was shortly seen making his way towards the tunnel following the newly introduced ‘bunker system’ which upgraded his yellow to a red.
The bunker system is designed to allow officials more time to make an informed decision on disciplinary issues, as well as to enable the on-field referees to continue with the game with elongated stoppages.
🌹 JUDGEMENT DAY
It’s judgement day for England captain Owen Farrell.
Farrell has already picked up three bans for high tackles during his career. The most recent one was in January:
ADVERTISEMENT2016 – 2 games
2020 – 5 games
2023 – 3 gamesHow long will he receive this time?
— RugbyInsideLine (@RugbyInsideLine) August 15, 2023
Having already attended ‘tackle school’ as part of his last punishment for a similar misdemeanour, Farrell would not have been sufficed the same opportunity to reduce his ban.
This has been deemed irrelevant, however, as the Saracens captain has been cleared following today disciplinary hearing.
Bombshell.
Owen Farrell has been CLEARED completely. He is free to play immediately.
Panel’s view was no red card, as Jamie George pushed Taine Basham.
Wow.
Start the bin fire.#RWC2023 #England
— Will Kelleher (@willgkelleher) August 15, 2023
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