Genge sorry for yellow — but might do it again!

ELLIS GENGE has vowed to learn his disciplinary lesson ahead of England’s Six Nations campaign, but admitted he cannot promise there will be no repeat of his yellow card at Wasps. The Leicester captain was sinbinned for shoving Francois Hougaard in the face and pulling his hair as the Tigers were beaten 16-13 on Sunday, their first loss of the season. The 26-year-old — who will join Bristol next term — escaped a citing and a ban, but England head coach Eddie Jones will not want a repeat, with Genge likely to be involved against Scotland in his team’s Six Nations opener on February 5. ‘It potentially cost us the game,’ Genge said. ‘Mine is an isolated incident of me losing my head for a split second. ‘I have apologised to the boys for letting them down, but it is something I can’t promise I won’t do again. ‘I’ve not got a bad disciplinary record. I have never been red carded in a professional game.’ Genge’s sin-binning was his seventh career yellow. Only once has he been shown a yellow card for England. ‘There is this weird perception I’ve got bad discipline — that goes in one ear and out the other but I probably let myself down,’ he said. ‘It’s a learning lesson for me. A lot of people said I tried to gouge him. That’s absolutely ridiculous. I pushed him in the face.’ Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed fans can return to large outdoor sporting events after Covid rules changed. It means a capacity crowd can attend England’s clash with the Scots in Edinburgh next month. Meanwhile, European rugby bosses are facing a losing battle in their bid to get English and Welsh teams to travel to France this weekend. Clubs had been in talks to boycott games unless the rule that they must quarantine for 48 hours on arrival was relaxed. No leeway has yet been granted, meaning there is a growing possibility the fixtures will be cancelled. In round two of the Champions and Challenge Cups before Christmas, seven games were postponed due to Covid. Both sides have been awarded two points and a 0-0 scoreline. Elsewhere, England No 8 Alex Dombrandt has signed a new long-term Harlequins deal. Northampton director of rugby Chris Boyd faces a hearing after saying referee Adam Leal ‘didn’t have enough nuts’ to penalise Saracens in their game on January 2. Saints will confirm today Boyd is leaving the club.