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Six Nations: Owen Farrell cleared to play in England opener against Scotland
Image source, Getty Images
Captain Owen Farrell has been cleared to play in England's Six Nations opener against Scotland after he completes his ban for a dangerous tackle.
Saracens' Farrell was handed a four-week ban for a high tackle on Gloucester's Jack Clement on 6 January.
That will be reduced to three weeks if he completes the World Rugby coaching intervention programme.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) said he will be available for Saracens' game against Bristol Bears on 28 January.
England start their Six Nations campaign on 4 February when they take on Scotland at Twickenham.
Players in the Six Nations squad would not ordinarily play for their club the weekend before the tournament starts.
However the RFU said it "has written to Saracens confirming the availability of Owen Farrell for the Saracens game against Bristol Bears on 28 January.
It added: "After a three-week ban and completing the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme, Farrell would be available for selection for England v Scotland on Saturday 4 February 2023."
Analysis
Chris Jones, 成人快手 rugby correspondent
Under the RFU's own regulations, a ban should cover matches the suspended player was scheduled to play in. England regulars, of which Farrell has been one for 11 years, never feature the weekend before the Six Nations under a club and country agreement.
While the panel didn't know for absolute certain Farrell would be in the England squad when the hearing took place last week, the circumstances will change once Farrell is inevitably selected by Steve Borthwick on Monday.
But whether cute or cynical, the RFU's latest statement is an attempt to ensure the disciplinary panel don't try to alter the dates of his ban, meaning he can be selected in the squad, train with the squad, and then be available for England against Scotland.
The RFU are far from the first union to game the system, but it jars with their oft-stated references to rugby values, and is an example of them trying to limit the impact of a ban their own disciplinary system imposed.
Amid the excitement of the new regime, it is a confusing and messy situation which threatens to overshadow Borthwick's first squad announcement.