England relief as Owen Farrell cleared to start Six Nations despite ban

11 January 2023 , 12:10

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Owen Farrell was hit with a ban following a dangerous tackle while playing for Saracens (Image: Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Owen Farrell is clear to start the Six Nations Championship despite being handed a four-match ban for a dangerous tackle.

The England captain accepted he was guilty of foul play with his high hit on Gloucester’s Jack Clement but challenged that it met the threshold for a red card. The Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel thought differently and handed him a suspension - though bizarrely it only took in club games.

Farrell has been told he must miss Saracens' games against Lyon, Edinburgh, Bristol and Leicester - and he will be reinstated for the Leicester game if he completes the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.

Critics of rugby’s disciplinary process will cry foul, asking how he can be permitted to play in Test matches against Scotland and Italy before the Leicester game.

In their written judgement the panel explained: “Having indicated the period of suspension we considered appropriate, the Panel was provided with details of the Player’s forthcoming fixtures.

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“The Panel was informed that no announcement has yet been made as to the England Squad for the forthcoming 6 Nations fixtures.

“Both parties submitted, and the Panel agrees, that RFU Regulation 19.11.15 applies and the question as to whether forthcoming fixtures are meaningful can only be judged on the best information available at the time of the decision.

“As the Player is currently eligible for selection in the [aforementioned] Saracens games the Panel finds that those fixtures are meaningful.

“Should those games be cancelled or rearranged, or should there be a change of circumstances, then it will be the responsibility of the parties to consider the position and to ensure that the sanction imposed by this Panel remains meaningful.”

Owen Farrell has been banned following this high-tackle on Jack Clement (BT Sport)

All of which means that it might be difficult for Steve Borthwick to name him in his tournament squad on Monday as in order to face Scotland on February 4 he will have to show clearly that he was available for the Bristol game a week earlier - and also make time to attend tackle school.

It will be fascinating to see how Borthwick plays this as some will argue that England should be setting an example on discipline rather than trying to slalom their way round the regulations. England are blessed with three top-quality fly-halves but George Ford has yet to return from long-term injury and Marcus Smith only starts his comeback this weekend.

I'd be staggered if Owen Farrell is unavailable for the first game of the Six Nations," he told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast. "I'm not saying that's right, I'm just saying that's what I think will happen."

Alex Spink