Tom Curry discovers Rugby World Cup fate after red card for dangerous play

12 September 2023 , 15:47

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Tom Curry has accepted a two-match suspension (Image: Getty Images)

England flanker Tom Curry has been banned for two matches following his red card in the win over Argentina at the Rugby World Cup.

Curry was dismissed just three minutes into the match against the Pumas in Marseille, but England managed to win 27-10 despite being down to 14 men. The forward attended a disciplinary hearing and has now accepted a two-game ban.

An Independent Disciplinary Committee had the power to ban Curry for six matches, but have shown some leniency. He will miss England's next two group stages matches against Japan and Chile, but will return against Samoa on October 7, provided he completes a Coaching Intervention Programme course.

A statement read: "The player intends to apply to take part in the World Rugby Coaching Intervention Programme to substitute the final match of the sanction for a coaching intervention aimed at modifying specific techniques and technical issues that contributed to the foul play subject to successful completion."

The reasoning was explained like this: "The player accepted that foul play occurred and that the offence warranted a red card. The Committee noted that the offence carries a mandatory minimum mid-range sanction (six matches), and having considered the mitigating factors, including admission of foul play and correctness of the red card at the first opportunity, an exemplary disciplinary record, apology to the player and good character, reduced the sanction by the maximum mitigation of 50 per cent."

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Referee Mathieu Raynal sent off Tom Curry vs Argentina (David Rogers/Getty Images)

Curry was initially shown a yellow card for his high tackle on Juan Cruz Mallia after the Argentina full-back took a high ball. But after sitting in the sin bin, Curry saw his punishment upgraded on review.

England went 3-0 down from the resulting penalty, via the boot of Emiliano Boffelli, but rallied impressively through George Ford's kicking. Ford scored all 27 points himself via penalties and drop-goals to give 14-man England a much-needed win in the opening game.

The punishment applied to Curry has been given further scrutiny after a similar tackle from South Africa star Jesse Kriel went unpunished in their win over Scotland. The refereeing at the tournament has come under close scrutiny due to the application of the laws.

Nevertheless, Curry has also copped some criticism, with former England scrum-half Matt Dawson saying: "He is like a caged animal. It is a common theme the ill-discipline of England. They get in such a good position and they mean well but the presence of mind and the the split-decision thinking is missing."

Felix Keith