Banned Mako Vunipola still available for Six Nations opener / Photo: Steve Haag - POOL/AFP/File
Banned Mako Vunipola still available for Six Nations opener
Mako Vunipola will still be available for England's Six Nations opener away to Italy next month despite the prop being given a four-match ban after being sent off playing for Saracens against Newcastle.
Vunipola received a red card late in Saracens' 37-19 win away to strugglers Newcastle in the English Premiership on Saturday following a dangerous tackle on Falcons hooker Bryan Byrne.
Suspensions in rugby union traditionally run across all competitions a player is involved in, with the 32-year-old Vunipola now ruled out of Saracens' Premiership matches against Leicester and Exeter as well as the north London club's European Champions Cup fixtures with French teams Bordeaux-Begles and Lyon.
But that leaves him free for World Cup bronze medallists England's Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on February 3 should head coach Steve Borthwick decide to include him in his matchday 23 for the Stadio Olimpico match.
Vunipola's availability is set to be a welcome boost for Borthwick given England's three World Cup squad loosehead props -- Ellis Genge, Joe Marler and Bevan Rodd -- are all currently injured.
Vunipola's case was heard by an independent disciplinary panel, with England's governing Rugby Football Union saying Wednesday: "The player admitted that foul play took place, but not that it met the red card threshold.
"The panel upheld the charge and Vunipola received a four-match ban.
"He is ineligible to take part in World Rugby's coaching intervention programme, having completed it in 2022."
Players can only go on the programme once in their career -- and can usually expect to have one game removed from their ban as a result. But that option was no longer open to Vunipola because of his prior involvement in the course.
P.Russo--IM
