Owen Farrell will not face a disciplinary panel for his high tackle on Anthony Watson in Saturday’s Premiership final between Saracens and Bath at Twickenham that forced the full-back from the field with a head injury.
The Bath head coach, Mike Ford, said that the Saracens fly‑half should have been sent off by the referee, Wayne Barnes, who did not review the incident, which occurred in the second minute. Farrell apologised to Watson after the match, saying there had been no intent to go high.
The citing commissioner, Mike Rafter, ruled that the challenge was not worthy of a red card but was serious enough to merit a level one citing. That means rather than appear before a disciplinary panel charged with an offence and face a possible ban, the England fly-half has been given the equivalent of a post-match yellow card and can enjoy his three weeks off before the national squad gathers on 22 June
Another England squad player, the hooker Rob Webber, also received a warning for tackling a Saracens player in the air during Bath’s 28-16 defeat.
