HEADS GONE

Panel gets roasting after clearing Farrell

- ALEX SPINK

RUGBY UNION

RUGBY chiefs face urgent calls to appeal against the “shocking” decision to overturn Owen Farrell’s red card for dangerous play and clear him for an immediate return to action. 

The England captain was widely expected to be banned for up to six weeks – and potentially miss the start of the World Cup – for his shoulder-to-head shot which knocked Wales forward Taine Basham out of Saturday’s Twickenham clash.

Instead, an all-Australian independent disciplinary committee stunned the sport by ruling the officials had been wrong to upgrade the yellow card to red and cleared Farrell (inset).