mens
world-rugby-u20-championship
England back-rower George Timmins has been handed a five-match ban after being sent off in the opening round of the World Rugby U20 Championship, ruling him out of the rest of the tournament.
The 20-year-old was dismissed early in the second half of England’s 56-19 win for leading with the elbow in a ruck.
Timmins will miss England’s four remaining matches at the U20 Championship in Italy, along with Bath’s pre-season friendly against Glasgow in September.
The Foul Play Review Committee (FPRC) decided that the correct entry point for the offending was the top end, but, having applied mitigation, the length of the ban was reduced.
In reaching their decision, the committee considered, amongst other factors, the deliberate actions of the player, the vulnerable position of the victim player on the ground, and the victim player suffering an injury to his face, which required stitches.
Timmins made his Premiership debut for Bath in the last round of the regular season in May and was hoping to make a big impact, just not this way, in Italy.
Meanwhile, New Zealand forward Randall Baker has been suspended for three matches, reduced to two on successful completion of the coaching intervention programme, after being cited by Italy for a dangerous clearout.
