Maro Itoje Avoids Ban, Boosting Saracens’ Premiership Bid
England lock Maro Itoje’s availability for Saracens has been secured as the independent disciplinary panel dismissed the citing against him for dangerous tackling. Itoje had been cited after making head-on-head contact with Bath’s Alfie Barbeary during Saracens’ narrow 15-12 victory last Friday, for which he received a yellow card.
The panel, led by Philip Evans KC, determined that the contact with Barbeary’s head was more glancing than direct, and that a high degree of danger was not created. As a result, the on-field decision stands, and Itoje will be free to feature in Saracens’ final two regular-season Premiership matches against Bristol and Sale, as well as a likely play-off semi-final.
Vunipola Avoids Further Punishment
This development is a significant boost for Saracens as they aim to defend their Premiership title won in 2023. Director of rugby Mark McCall will also be able to select powerful number eight Billy Vunipola, who is set to avoid further punishment from the club following an internal investigation into his recent arrest in Majorca.
“Whatever happened, when it gets to this time of year, Saracens just zone in,” Ojo said. “A lot of the eyes this season have been on teams like Northampton and Bath, but now all of a sudden Saracens are second and in sight of a home semi-final.”
Vunipola, who is expected to leave Saracens at the end of the season to join Montpellier, was tasered by police for resisting arrest and assaulting an officer while on a team bonding trip. However, Saracens are now ready to move on from the controversy, with a focus on their bid for back-to-back league titles.
Former England wing Topsy Ojo believes Saracens will rally together in the wake of the Vunipola incident and cannot be discounted from winning another title.
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