Saracens prop Mako Vunipola handed four-game ban

Saracens and England prop Mako Vunipola has been handed a four-game suspension following his red card incident in the recently concluded Gallagher Premiership game against Newcastle Falcons.

The 32-year-old was sent-off in the closing stage of the round 10 encounter for a dangerous tackle on Falcons hooker Bryan Byrne.

Vunipola faced an independent disciplinary hearing of the Rugby Football Union and the committee upheld the red card decision. He was ineligible to take part in World Rugby's coaching intervention programme having completed it in 2022.

"The player admitted that foul play took place, but not that it met the red card threshold," read a statement from the disciplinary panel.

"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."

Vunipola will now miss Saracens' Premiership games against Leicester Tigers and Exeter Chiefs alongside Investec Champions Cup matches against Bordeaux Begles and Lyon but will be available for England's Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on 3rd February.