Here are the latest rugby headlines on Wednesday, January 11.
Farcical Farrell situation emerges after ban
Owen Farrell's three-match ban for a high tackle, reduced from four weeks amid a lifeline to go to tackle school, has been heavily criticised as it includes a fixture he would not have played in unless dropped by England.
The England and Saracens fly-half has been suspended for making contact with the head of Gloucester's Jack Clement while tackling him earlier this month. Farrell is banned for Saracens' games against Lyon, Edinburgh and Bristol in January, with his suspension for a fourth game against Leicester Tigers on February 2 being void if he completes the programme.
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However, Farrell would have been all but certain to not feature in the game against Bristol on January 28 anyway as he is expected to be in England's Six Nations camp by then, prompting uproar over how the judicial process has allowed this "loophole". The explanation is that the England squad has not yet been announced, so the panel can only take into account Saracens fixtures.
It has prompted a call for new England head coach Steve Borthwick to omit Farrell from his England squad.
The Daily Mail's Chris Foy writes: "The real farce is in the decision about what constitutes a relevant match, to be included in the suspension. Farrell would have played in Saracens' next two matches in the Champions Cup, but there is no way he would have been involved in the Premiership game against Bristol at StoneX Stadium on January 28 - a week before the Calcutta Cup showdown with Scotland at Twickenham. Now, Borthwick might have to leave him out of the training squad, so that he is then deemed to have served his suspension, including the Bristol fixture, in time for the Six Nations opener.
"England's rivals will rage at a stitch-up, to ensure Borthwick has a key man at his disposal, but that is a red-herring argument. Farrell's likely availability to play against Scotland should not be regarded as an outrage, but the process which led to that outcome is a joke and needs reform."
The RFU judgement said: "The panel was informed that no announcement has yet been made as to the England squad for the forthcoming Six Nations fixtures. Both parties submitted, and the panel agrees, that RFU Regulation 19.11.15 applies and the question as to whether forthcoming fixtures are meaningful can only be judged on the best information available at the time of the decision. As the player is currently eligible for selection in the Saracens games [against Lyon, Edinburgh and Bristol Bears in January], the panel finds that those fixtures are meaningful."
Read next: Thomas Young's Six Nations hopes dashed as Wales and Cardiff flanker receives crushing news
Navidi close to return
One of Warren Gatland's former Wales favourites is close to returning after six months out.
Josh Navidi last played rugby during Wales' summer tour of South Africa but has been missing since with what was described as a "neurological neck injury".
It has been a long road back for the flanker, who became a key man for Gatland in the latter years of his first Wales reign. Navidi has been back in training for two weeks and is about to progress to contact training that should see him ready to play again within the next few weeks.
Team-mate Jim Botham is ready to return this weekend after six weeks out with an elbow injury.
Cardiff gutted for Young
While it's positive news for two Cardiff back rowers, another is coming to terms with the latest serving of rotten luck in his career.
Thomas Young, whose red hot form appeared so likely to earn a Six Nations call, is out for 12 weeks with a calf injury, leaving everyone at the region gutted for him.
Attack coach Matt Sherratt said: "He's obviously been through it before. He's an experienced player but we're just disappointed for him. He's put a string of really good performances together. Obviously it's very disappointing the timing of it and the severity.
"It's not great timing with the Six Nations squad in the offing in the next couple of weeks. But he can be very pleased with the start he's had to his second Cardiff career, if you like. He's been playing really well. He's a good professional so if there's any way he can shave time off the injury, I'm sure he will do."
Tom Curry to miss England's first two Six Nations games but could return for Wales
Steve Borthwick has been dealt another pre-Six Nations injury blow with Sale flanker Tom Curry set to miss England's first two games. Curry, who has won 45 caps and skippered England for the first time in last season's Six Nations opener against Scotland, was hurt during Sale's Gallagher Premiership victory over Harlequins on Sunday.
England head coach Borthwick is already without Exeter hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie for at least the start of the tournament after he suffered an ankle injury last weekend.
England kick off their campaign at home to Scotland on February 4 - Borthwick's first game in charge - before hosting Italy eight days later. England then travel to Cardiff to face Wales on February 25.
Curry has excelled on the Test match stage since making his England debut in 2017, and he is one of the most efficient back-row operators in world rugby.
Sale rugby director Alex Sanderson said: "This is a (grade) 2c hamstring tear, so it wasn't as bad as originally thought. We got him scanned, assessed and reassessed. A 3c would have been six-eight weeks (out), and he would have been looking to play at the back end of the Six Nations.
"With it being a 2c and Tom being very diligent on his rehab, it means he could be back for Wales, certainly Wales (on February 25). So that is a real positive for England and all of us, because I want England to do well. He gets on with things quick, Tom. He has got his head around it, and he is focused on the Six Nations. Now that he knows it could have been six-eight (weeks), but more likely four-six, he is more positive about it."
In terms of Sale's immediate schedule, 24-year-old Curry will miss their Heineken Champions Cup encounters against Toulouse and Ulster.
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