News24 | Referee guru Owens sees red: Rugby in ‘big trouble’ if Farrell tackle isn’t a send-off

Nigel Owens. (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

• Referee guru Nigel Owens has weighed in on the Owen Farrell red card furore.
• Owens was adamant that the England flyhalf must be punished for what the former says are repeated offences.
• The Welshman warned that the game would be in ‘big trouble’ if Farrell’s actions were not considered a red card offence.
• For more sports news, go to the News24 Sport front page.

Former leading referee Nigel Owens warned rugby union is in “big trouble” if Owen Farrell’s dangerous tackle against Wales is no longer regarded as worthy of a sending off.

The England captain faces an independent disciplinary panel on Tuesday after World Rugby, the sport’s global governing body, appealed against the decision to downgrade his red card for a high shoulder-led challenge on Taine Basham to yellow.

READ | England coach laments ‘personal attacks’ on Farrell after overturned red card

The original hearing’s overturning of the in-game decision made