Ellis Genge banned for dangerous tackle on England pal Tom Curry

Ellis Genge will miss the remainder of the season with Bristol – but his ban for dangerously tackling Tom Curry won’t spill over into the new season with England provided he successfully completes tackle school. The England prop was cited following a collision in last Friday’s club loss to Sale in the Gallagher Premiership.

His disciplinary hearing followed on Tuesday evening and it has now emerged that he must serve a three-match ban, a suspension that will be reduced to two with the World Rugby coaching intervention. Bristol have just two games remaining this season, this Saturday’s trip to Exeter followed by the May 6 finale at home to Gloucester.

That shortage of outings could have left Genge in danger of being unavailable for selection for the opening match of England’s four-game lead into the Rugby World Cup, the August 5 game away to Wales. However, completion of tackle school will clear the path for him with his country.

A statement read: “Ellis Genge, Bristol Bears, was cited for dangerous tackling contrary to World Rugby law 9.13 for an incident during the game against Sale Sharks on April 14. The case was heard yesterday evening [Tuesday] by an independent disciplinary panel chaired by Matthew Weaver sitting with Mitch Read and Carl Bradshaw.

“Genge accepted the charge and received a three-week ban which will be reduced to two if he completes the World Rugby coaching intervention programme.”

Weaver said: “Ellis Genge accepted the charge of dangerously tackling Tom Curry, contrary to World Rugby law 9.13, prior to the hearing and, as such, the panel needed to consider only the appropriate sanction.

“Having considered the incident, including viewing footage of it both in real-time and in slow motion, and it being confirmed that Tom Curry had suffered no significant injury, the panel was content that the appropriate entry point was the mandatory minimum of mid-range, being a six-week suspension from playing.

“In light of his acceptance of the charge at the earliest opportunity, his apology to Tom Curry, and his previously good disciplinary record over a long career of over 150 top-level matches and 40 international matches, the panel were content to mitigate the suspension by the maximum 50 per cent, reducing the suspension to a 3-week suspension.

“Ellis Genge has confirmed his intention to participate in the World Rugby coaching intervention programme which, if he is confirmed as eligible and conditional upon him completing the programme, will reduce his suspension to two weeks, meaning that he will be unavailable for Bristol’s matches against Exeter on April 22 and against Gloucester on May 6.”