England's Vunipola to learn fate on Tuesday

NEWS: England’s Billy Vunipola will know his fate on Tuesday following his red card against Ireland when the hearing for the red card offence will take place.

Vunipola, the only specialist No. 8 in England’s World Cup squad, was red-carded for a dangerous tackle in Englands’ 10-29 loss to top-ranked Ireland in a World Cup warm-up game over the weekend.

England coach Steve Borthwick had his World Cup plans upended with both Vunipola and Owen Farrell both facing bans that would rule them out of the start of the tournament.

Vunipola was sent off for a high tackle in Dublin – seven days after Farrell’s dismissal – and will attend an independent disciplinary hearing after he received a red card for an act of foul play contrary to Law 9.13 (A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously.

Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders.

The player will attend a hearing via video conference before an independent Judicial Committee consisting of Roddy Dunlop KC – Chairman (Scotland), joined by former international coach Frank Hadden (Scotland) and former international Jamie Corsi (Wales).

The hearing will take place on Tuesday evening, on August 22, 2023.