FARRELL’S FREE TO FACE SCOTS!
England skipper ready for Twickenham opener after escaping long ban
OWEN FARRELL is available to play in England’s Six Nations opener against Scotland at Twickenham on February 4, after escaping with what will become a three-match ban for a dangerous tackle.
The England captain was found guilty of making contact with the head of Gloucester’s Jack Clement during a Premiership match at Kingsholm last Friday. A disciplinary panel imposed a ‘mid-range’ six-week suspension, but reduced the sanction by two weeks due to mitigating factors — good conduct, an admission of guilt and apologising to his opponent. They also ruled that Farrell’s ban will be reduced by a further week if he completes World Rugby’s ‘Coaching Intervention Process’.
Having not previously undertaken what is essentially a tackling awareness course, Farrell will be filmed doing on-field drills and also completing ‘desktop’ work, with a report to be submitted to a specialist group of former players for approval.
The 31-year-old fly-half is set to be cleared to face Scotland because the disciplinary panel could not assume he will be included in the England squad to be named by head coach Steve Borthwick next Monday. It means that Saracens’ Premiership game against Bristol on January 28 is likely to count as the third and final game covered by the ban.
The RFU believe Borthwick is free to select Farrell and the playmaker can train with England from January 23, on the basis that he will be available to participate in the Calcutta Cup match. That is because, in theory, Farrell could be released to play against Bristol, even though there is no precedent for such an established player to be sent back to their club, unless they are short of game time.
In their judgment, the disciplinary panel stated: ‘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. If necessary, the player’s free-to-play date will be amended to ensure the sanction remains meaningful.’
That suggests there is still an outside chance Farrell could be forced out of the Scotland game, but that is considered a faint threat.
Meanwhile, Tom Curry is set to miss England’s first two Six Nations matches — against Scotland and Italy — due to a hamstring tear suffered in action for Sale against Harlequins last Sunday.
‘It wasn’t as bad as originally thought,’ said Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson, in relation to his star flanker’s injury. ‘With Tom being very diligent on his rehab, it means he could be back for Wales (on February 25). That is a real positive for England and all of us.
‘Tom gets on with things quick. Now he knows it could have been six to eight weeks, but is more likely four to six, he is more positive about it.’