Steward’s red card against Ireland overturned
England full-back Freddie Steward has been cleared to play after his red card in Saturday’s Six Nations defeat by Ireland was overturned.
Steward appeared before a virtualdisciplinaryhearingon Tuesday night for a dangerous challenge to the head of Hugo Keenan that ended the fullback’s afternoon at the Aviva Stadium.
However, while it was decided the tackle was an act of foul play, the panel felt there were sufficient mitigating circumstances to view it as a yellow card offence only.
England’s frustration at the onfield decision by referee Jaco Peyper will have only have increased knowing that Steward should have only sat outjust10minutesofthegame rather than the entire secondhalf. Steve Borthwick’s men showed resolve in the face of the Leicester full-back’s dismissal, which drew an incredulous “Red card?!” response from Owen Farrell, before being over-run 29-16.
But the hearing noted in its statementthat“matchofficials arerequiredtomakedecisions underpressureandintheheat of a live match environment”.
Peyper’s original decision dividedopinionasrugby’sgoverning bodies continue their crackdown on dangerous play, especially any involving the head, in the face of concussion lawsuits.
The red card and subsequent decision to reverse it will only add to the confusion, with the World Cup looming this autumn.
Steward’s elbow inadvertentlyconnectedwithKeenan’s head in an accidental collision betweenthefull-backsinfirsthalf overtime.
As Keenan stooped to pick uptheball,Stewardturnedhis bodyandalthoughhisarmwas tucked into his side, his elbow stuck Keenan, who as a result failed an HIA.
Peyper worked through the head-contact protocols to arrive at his decision, with the contention arising over his refusal to consider any mitigating factors, but the hearing took a different view.
Steward’sinitialchargeof‘a playermustnottackleanopponentearly,lateordangerously’ was changed by the hearing to ‘players must not do anything thatisrecklessordangerousto others’.The22-year-old,oneof England’sfewstrongperformers in the Six Nations, told the hearing he should not have been sent off.