Owen Farrell will be available for England’s opening Six Nations match after being handed a four-game ban for dangerous play.
Farrell was brought before a disciplinary panel on Tuesday evening after a no-arms, high collision with the head of Jack Clement during a Premiership match between Gloucester and Saracens.
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Match referee Karl Dickson took no on-field action against Farrell, after what appeared to be a miscommunication with the Television Match Official. Farrell would go on to controversially score the winning points for Saracens with a late drop-goal.
During his hearing, the 31-year-old playmaker accepted that the incident fell into the mould of foul play, but challenged that it met the red card threshold.
However, the independent panel upheld the charge and handed Farrell a four-game ban. This can become three weeks if Farrell completes the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme.
Farrell will therefore miss Saracens’ final two Champions Cup pool matches against Lyon and Edinburgh, as well as a Premiership game against Bristol Bears.
Should he, as expected, complete the coaching programme, Farrell will be available to captain England in the Six Nations first-round clash against Scotland at Twickenham on 4 February.
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Photo: EPA/RICHARD WAINWRIGHT