Rugby World Cup 2019: USA’s John Quill banned for three matches after red card against England

The American flanker was found by an independent judicial committee to have committed a reckless act of foul play

John Quill has received a three-match ban after being sent off during England’s 45-7 win over the USA.

The American flanker was found by an independent judicial committee to have committed a reckless act of foul play, making contact with his shoulder to the head of Owen Farrell in the second half of the game.

This merited a red card and a mid-range six-game entry point for the ban, reduced to three matches due to Quill’s good character and conduct at the hearing.

Quill will thus miss the USA’s three other Pool C games against France, Argentina and Tonga.

Farrell was not seriously injured by Quill’s challenge and played on after the incident.

Referee Nic Berry, who had his playing career ended by concussion problems, sent the flanker off after consultation with the Television Match Official.

It has been a Rugby World Cup 2019 of debate around seemingly lenient intiial punishments for a number of high tackle incidents.

Indeed, Quill’s tackle was not the only such moment of the England-USA clash, with England centre Piers Francis cited for his tackle of Will Hooley inside of 15 seconds.

Francis will appear before a judicial committee at some point in the next few days, and given he also made contact with the head of the player, a mid-range entry point seems likely.

Francis would therefore also appear to be in line for a three-game ban. Rey Lee-Lo of Samoa and Reece Hodge of Australia received identical bans earlier in the tournament.

Also banned for three games today was Samoan hooker Motu Matu’u.

Matu’u and team mate Lee-Lo were cited after receiving yellow cards against Russia, with the citing panel deeming the offences to be worthy of a red card.

Team mate Ed Fidow received a warning.