Tom Curry: England could contest red card amid Rugby World Cup ban threat
England could contest Tom Curry’s red card in Tuesday night’s disciplinary hearing at the Rugby World Cup.
The fit-again Sale flanker was sent off during the early stages of England’s 27-10 victory over Argentina on Saturday that kick-started their Pool D campaign for Steve Borthwick’s side.
Curry collided head to head with Argentina full-back Juan Cruz Mallia in the third minute of the game in Marseille, and saw an initial yellow card upgraded to red after a bunker review.
England made light of their man disadvantage to subdue the passive Pumas at the Stade Velodrome, but could now be without Curry for three weeks should a ban be imposed.
Springboks centre Jesse Kriel clashed heads with Scotland’s Jack Dempsey in Sunday’s Pool B match in Marseille. The incident appeared similar to Curry’s dismissal, and yet the officials ignored the challenge entirely.
Kriel stayed on the field and defending champions South Africa powered past Scotland 18-3, to lay down an early marker in the tournament’s toughest pool that also includes No1-ranked Ireland.
Chile captain Martin Sigren was earlier sin-binned for a head collision with Japan’s Kotaro Matsushima that also appeared similar to Curry’s situation.
The Brave Blossoms defeated World Cup debutants Chile 42-12 in Toulouse on Sunday, but the Sigren incident will be as interesting to England as the opportunity to analyse two future opponents’ approaches.
Curry’s dismissal was England’s fourth red card in the last six matches, following the dismissals of Freddie Steward, Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola.
