England's Freddie Steward has red card against Ireland rescinded

England full back Freddie Steward has had the red card he received in the first half of Saturday's Grand Slam decider against Ireland rescinded.

The Leicester Tigers star was shown a red card for appearing to jump and turn his hip onto the head of opposite number Hugo Keenan as he lost possession. 

South African referee Jaco Peyper issued a red card after reviewing the incident which occurred just before half-time.

A Six Nations disciplinary panel decided it was foul play but brought it down from a red to a yellow card for "mitigating factors including the late change in the dynamics and positioning of the opposing player."

The committee felt Steward "had been reckless in his actions and in his upright positioning as he approached and came into highly dangerous contact with the other player."

But mitigation applied, according to the committee and Steward is now free to return to play immediately.

A statement released on Wednesday morning said: 

"England fullback Freddie Steward appeared before an independent Disciplinary Committee via video link having received a red card in the Guinness Six Nations match between Ireland and England on Saturday 18th March 2023 played at the Aviva Stadium.

"The Red Card was issued as a result of the Referee concluding that the Player had acted contrary to Law 9.13 (A player must not tackle an opponent early, late or dangerously. Dangerous tackling includes, but is not limited to, tackling or attempting to tackle an opponent above the line of the shoulders even if the tackle starts below the line of the shoulders).

"The independent Disciplinary Committee consisting of Nigel Hampton KC – Chair (New Zealand), Frank Hadden (Scotland) and John Langford (Australia) heard the case, and considered all the available evidence, including multiple broadcast angles and submissions from the Player and his representative.

"After hearing the submissions, the Disciplinary Committee formally amended the Law which was breached to Law 9.11 (Players must not do anything that is reckless or dangerous to others including leading with the elbow or forearm, or jumping into, or over, a tackler).

"The player denied that he had committed an act of foul play worthy of a red card as described in Law 9.11. Having reviewed all the evidence, the Committee decided that: 

(i) head contact with an opposing player had occurred; 

(ii) there had been an act of foul play in breach of Law 9.11 in that the Player had been reckless in his actions and in his upright positioning as he approached and came into highly dangerous contact with the other player; 

and (iii) there were sufficient mitigating factors including the late change in the dynamics and positioning of the opposing player which should have resulted in the issue of a yellow card rather than a red card.

"On that basis, the Committee did not uphold the red card and the player is free to play again immediately.

"The Committee acknowledged that match officials are required to make decisions under pressure and in the heat of a live match environment."