{"id":302300,"date":"2023-12-13T17:25:17","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T17:25:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/?p=302300"},"modified":"2023-12-13T17:25:17","modified_gmt":"2023-12-13T17:25:17","slug":"saracens-billy-vunipola-cleared-to-play-after-red-card-against-bulls-overturned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstons.com\/rugby-union\/saracens-billy-vunipola-cleared-to-play-after-red-card-against-bulls-overturned\/","title":{"rendered":"Saracens\u2019 Billy Vunipola cleared to play after red card against Bulls overturned"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Billy Vunipola\u2019s red card he received during Saracens\u2019 Investec Champions Cup clash against the Bulls in South Africa has been overturned.<\/p>\n

It means that the England number eight is free to play immediately, making him available for Saturday\u2019s European appointment with Connacht.<\/p>\n

Vunipola was sent off early in the second half by Italian referee Andrea Piardi for a dangerous strike to the head area of Bulls forward Cameron Hanekom.<\/p>\n

The 31-year-old, who appeared by video link before an independent disciplinary panel, accepted that he had committed an act of foul play, but he did not accept it warranted a red card.<\/p>\n

Tournament organiser European Professional Club Rugby said: \u201cThe committee determined that Vunipola had committed an act of foul play.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, it decided that there was insufficient force in the contact to Hanekom\u2019s head to warrant a red card, and the red card was therefore overturned.<\/p>\n

\u201cVunipola is free to play immediately, and EPCR has the right to appeal the decision.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reflecting on the outcome, Saracens rugby director Mark McCall said: \u201cIt was good news for us and probably the right decision.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe panel heard and saw all the evidence and decided it was a yellow card, not red, and we are grateful to have Billy available immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saracens were beaten 27-16 by the Bulls in the first of their four Champions Cup pool games.<\/p>\n

A citing complaint against Bristol wing Kalaveti Ravouvou, meanwhile, has been dismissed.<\/p>\n

Ravouvou was yellow-carded following a tackle on Lyon\u2019s Alexandre Tchaptchet during a Champions Cup fixture at Ashton Gate.<\/p>\n

EPCR added: \u201cThe committee determined that Ravouvou had committed an act of foul play and that the match officials were not wrong in issuing him with a yellow card.<\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, it decided that his actions did not warrant a red card and the citing complaint was dismissed. Ravouvou is free to play immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n

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