Banned Mako Vunipola still available for Six Nations opener / Photo: Steve Haag - POOL/AFP/File
-
Heat, air pollution, disease: How climate change affects health
-
Boeing to face civil trial over 2019 MAX crash
-
Over 130 homes lost in California wildfire as winds abate for now
-
'No excuses', says Farrell after All Blacks end Irish home win streak
-
Furious de Zerbi talks of leaving after Marseille lose to Auxerre
-
UK rules drivers on Bolt ride-hailing platform are employees
-
US stocks hit fresh records as European bourses retreat
-
McKenzie boots All Blacks to victory over sloppy Irish
-
Star striker Mekhloufi symbol of Algerian struggle dies at 88
-
Marseille lose further ground in title race with Auxerre loss
-
Climate crusader to vaccine skeptic RFK Jr to 'Make America Healthy Again'
-
US announces charges in alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Trump
-
Daughter of missing Mexico environment defender pleads for global help
-
After Trump victory, EU leaders vow 'urgent' economic reform
-
Death toll from Mozambique election protests rises to at least 30
-
Beyonce leads Grammy nods after trailblazing country album
-
Elon Musk took part in Trump-Zelensky call: Ukrainian official
-
Gatland 'relishes the pressure' with struggling Wales
-
Villa's Emery aiming high despite mini-slump
-
Zheng to play WTA Finals decider after beating Krejcikova in the semis
-
Gauff sets up decider with Zheng at WTA Finals
-
PSG to curb political slogans in wake of 'Free Palestine' banner
-
Yankees keep Boone as manager for 2025 MLB season
-
Samson and leg-spinners earn crushing T20 win for India against South Africa
-
Israeli football fans home after 'frightening' Amsterdam violence
-
Jewish students block Austria far-right parliament speaker at Holocaust memorial
-
Spain's grim search for flood missing moves to coast
-
European businesses brace for Trump return
-
11 bodies found in Mexico truck were of missing group: prosecutors
-
Germany's embattled Scholz open to talks on early election
-
UN peacekeepers say Israel army damages south Lebanon position
-
Toll from Mozambique election protests up to at least 30
-
Superstar Dupont raring to go for France return
-
First flight with Israelis evacuated from Amsterdam lands in Tel Aviv
-
Resilient but threatened, Kenya celebrates Maa culture
-
Van Nistelrooy accepts Man Utd lack a clinical striker
-
Maresca says Chelsea can beat 'any team'
-
Kolisi on the bench as Springboks ring changes for Scotland clash
-
Israeli football supporters back home after Amsterdam violence
-
Stock markets waver after US election rally, rate cut
-
Guardiola will 'solve' Man City's malaise
-
Russia seeks six years for medic for criticising Ukraine campaign
-
Leveraging Trump win, embattled Macron eyes diplomatic comeback
-
England cricket great Botham hails Hughes for Aussie croc rescue
-
Mbappe 'down but not out' says Real Madrid coach Ancelotti
-
Arsenal ready to rebound after troubled spell: Arteta
-
Cartier owner's profit sinks as China sales slump
-
UN aims to set standards for scandal-hit carbon markets
-
Australia rugby captain Wilson aiming to hit England for six
-
Amsterdam mayor 'ashamed' by 'unbearable' attacks on Israel football fans
NYSE - LSE
| RBGPF | 0.02% | 61.4 | $ | |
| JRI | 1.18% | 13.53 | $ | |
| BCC | 1.03% | 142.32 | $ | |
| SCS | 0.46% | 13.14 | $ | |
| BCE | 1.06% | 28.37 | $ | |
| NGG | -0.56% | 63.94 | $ | |
| RELX | 0.67% | 47.98 | $ | |
| GSK | -1.02% | 36.29 | $ | |
| RIO | -4.72% | 64.43 | $ | |
| CMSD | 0.94% | 25.125 | $ | |
| CMSC | 0.64% | 24.84 | $ | |
| BTI | -0.03% | 35.39 | $ | |
| VOD | -0.11% | 9.31 | $ | |
| AZN | -0.31% | 64.49 | $ | |
| RYCEF | -0.98% | 7.14 | $ | |
| BP | -3.04% | 28.93 | $ |
Banned Mako Vunipola still available for Six Nations opener
Mako Vunipola will still be available for England's Six Nations opener away to Italy next month despite the prop being given a four-match ban after being sent off playing for Saracens against Newcastle.
Vunipola received a red card late in Saracens' 37-19 win away to strugglers Newcastle in the English Premiership on Saturday following a dangerous tackle on Falcons hooker Bryan Byrne.
Suspensions in rugby union traditionally run across all competitions a player is involved in, with the 32-year-old Vunipola now ruled out of Saracens' Premiership matches against Leicester and Exeter as well as the north London club's European Champions Cup fixtures with French teams Bordeaux-Begles and Lyon.
But that leaves him free for World Cup bronze medallists England's Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on February 3 should head coach Steve Borthwick decide to include him in his matchday 23 for the Stadio Olimpico match.
Vunipola's availability is set to be a welcome boost for Borthwick given England's three World Cup squad loosehead props -- Ellis Genge, Joe Marler and Bevan Rodd -- are all currently injured.
Vunipola's case was heard by an independent disciplinary panel, with England's governing Rugby Football Union saying Wednesday: "The player admitted that foul play took place, but not that it met the red card threshold.
"The panel upheld the charge and Vunipola received a four-match ban.
"He is ineligible to take part in World Rugby's coaching intervention programme, having completed it in 2022."
Players can only go on the programme once in their career -- and can usually expect to have one game removed from their ban as a result. But that option was no longer open to Vunipola because of his prior involvement in the course.
M.Thompson--AMWN