Rugby World Cup 2019: England’s Piers Francis cited for dangerous high tackle on Will Hooley

England centre facing World Cup ban after being cited for the very first tackle in their victory over the USA, but news comes on the same day that Mako Vunipola and Jack Nowell come through full training for the first time in Japan

England’s Piers Francis faces a Rugby World Cup ban after being cited for a dangerous high tackle on the United States full-back Will Hooley, handing England their first major setback at Japan 2019.

Francis hit Cambridge-born Hooley with the very first tackle of Thursday’s 45-7 victory over the USA that went unpunished at the time, with neither referee Nic Berry nor television match official Ben Skeen seeing the incident along with the other match officials.

With World Rugby leading a clampdown on officiating at the World Cup following a below-par opening weekend, Francis could now become the fourth player to be banned at this year’s tournament. Both Australia’s Reece Hodge and Samoa’s Rey Lee-Lo have been suspended for three weeks, while fellow Samoan Motu Matu’u is also facing a ban for a dangerous high tackle in their win over Russia earlier this week.

If found guilty, Francis would face a minimum six-week ban due to the contact being made to the head of Hooley, as per World Rugby’s mandatory regulations on just occurrences, and even if Francis were to receive full 50 per cent mitigation to cut the ban in half, he would still miss the rest of the pool stage and the quarter-finals, should England make it out of Pool C.

But if the three-man disciplinary panel deems the incident of high severity, Francis could find that his World Cup is over, and to rub salt into the wound England would not be allowed to call up another player from home as replacing suspended players is not allowed.

One potential mitigating factor in the incident is that Hooley appeared to lower his height slightly before impact, though whether that made any difference to the collision is for the panel to decide.

A World Rugby statement on Friday morning confirmed: “England centre Piers Francis has been cited for an act of foul play contrary to Law 9.13 (dangerous high tackle) in England’s Rugby World Cup 2019 match against USA on 26 September.

“The player will attend a hearing before an independent Judicial Committee chaired by Nigel Hampton QC (New Zealand), joined by former international coach Frank Hadden (Scotland) and former international referee José Luis Rolandi (Argentina).

“The hearing will take place in Tokyo on a date to be agreed with the player and his representatives.”

The hearing will take place before England’s next match against Argentina next Saturday, meaning head coach Eddie Jones will know whether he has the Northampton Saints centre available for selection or not.

The Australian was determined not to discuss any of the controversies during the match in Kobe, and his assistant coach Scott Wisemantel echoed those thoughts on Friday. However, he did reveal that both Mako Vunipola and Jack Nowell – the only two players yet to feature for England at the World Cup – came through a full fitness session on Friday morning with flying colours and look set to feature in selection for the game against the Pumas.

"We trained early this morning and Mako and Jack are good,” said the attack coach Wisemantel. :At this stage we believe everyone will be available against Argentina.

"Mako gives us something with his ball carrying and energy around the park..But the way the boys are going, he's going to find it hard to get back into the team selection-wise. Joe Marler and Ellis Genge are doing a good job.

"Jack adds something different. He is a hybrid really - a winger cum back-rower, the way he plays.”

Meanwhile, John Quill is facing a disciplinary hearing in Tokyo this afternoon following his red-card offence on Owen Farrell, which saw the US reduced to 14 men for the closing minutes of Thursday's encounter.

Download or listen to the latest episode of The Indy Rugby Podcast from the Rugby World Cup.