Banned Mako Vunipola still available for England’s Six Nations opener away to Italy
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Mako Vunipola is still available for England's match against Italy on Feb 3.
PHOTO: REUTERS
LONDON – Mako Vunipola will still be available for England’s Six Nations opener away to Italy in early February, despite the prop being given a four-match ban after being sent off while playing for Saracens against Newcastle Falcons.
The 32-year-old received a red card late in Saracens’ 37-19 home victory over strugglers Newcastle in the English Premiership on Dec 30, following a dangerous tackle on Falcons hooker Bryan Byrne.
Suspensions in rugby union traditionally run across all competitions a player is involved in, with Vunipola now ruled out of Saracens’ Premiership matches against Leicester Tigers and Exeter Chiefs, as well as the north London club’s Champions Cup fixtures with French teams Bordeaux Begles and Lyon.
But that leaves him free for England’s Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on Feb 3.
With his ban expiring just a week before the Stadio Olimpico match, it would mean Vunipola going into the game “cold” should head coach Steve Borthwick include him in his squad.
Even so, Vunipola’s availability is set to be some comfort for Borthwick, given that England’s three World Cup squad loosehead props – Ellis Genge, Joe Marler and Bevan Rodd – are all injured.
Marler went off with an arm problem during Harlequins’ 32-26 Premiership win over Gloucester at Twickenham last weekend.
“God love him, he battled on for a long time, but we have got specialists looking at him as we speak,” Quins rugby director Billy Millard said on Jan 3.
“Fingers crossed, it is only a short-term one.
“Joe is Joe. He is big for us in so many ways. Hopefully, it is not a long one for him.”
Vunipola’s case was heard by an independent disciplinary panel, with England’s Rugby Football Union saying on Jan 3: “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 go on the programme only 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. AFP
