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Rugby World Cup: Owen Farrell to miss first two group games after World Rugby successfully appeal overturned red card
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Published 23/08/2023 at 00:51 GMT+1
Despite having his red card in the World Cup warm-up game against Wales overturned, Owen Farrell is set to miss England’s next four matches, which includes two World Cup group stage games. His red card was originally rescinded due to "a change in dynamic in the contact area” by opponent Taine Basham, but World Rugby intervened with a successful appeal, claiming the tackle was "always illegal".
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Owen Farrell will miss England’s World Cup pool games against Argentina and Japan after World Rugby successfully appealed the overturned red card he received against Wales.
The two group-stage games are in addition to England’s remaining World Cup warm-up match against Fiji, meaning he will have missed four matches in total.
Farrell was the first player on the wrong end of the rugby's new “bunker” review system when he made a high tackle on Taine Basham during England's 19-17 warm–up win over Wales.
His yellow card was upgraded to red in-game but was overturned after it was deemed Basham showed "a change in dynamic in the contact area”, influenced by England team-mate Jamie George.
But the appeal committee thought the tackle was "always illegal", and successfully had an appeal switch the decision back to a red.
It was determined that no mitigation could be made for the tackle, concluding the decision to overturn the red card was an error, leading to Farrell’s ban.
Farrell "voluntarily stood down" from England’s loss against Dublin on Saturday after World Rugby triggered their intention appeal, and that game has been included in the ban - the first match of four.
England kick-off their World Cup campaign against Argentina on September 9.
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