Freddie Steward

England full-back Freddie Steward was sent off by Jaco Peyper after making contact with the head of Ireland counterpart Hugo Keenan.

That’s not to undermine the injury suffered by Keenan and it was a great shame to see him fail his HIA. Not only that, but Keenan’s height, having stooped to collect the ball, was surely was a factor given how often we talk about a change in height. It’s certainly not a tackle situation and it seems overly harsh for it to be judged as so. Of course, the game has a duty to protect players. You barely batted an eyelid when Steward and Keenan appeared to collide innocuously at real speed as play broke down. Steward appeared to brace himself and turned his body to the side with the replays showing that his elbow made contact with the head of Keenan.

Brian O'Driscoll was noy buying Clive Woodward's claims that Freddie Steward should not have been sent off against Ireland.

To the letter of the law it's a red card, but in terms of a rugby incident, it's a yellow card at best. Woodward was clearly speaking nonsense here, saying it was a red card offence but only a yellow should have been given. Freddie Steward is not a dirty player, he's not going 'I'm going to hurt this player'. It's just unbelievably unlucky that he caught him square in the head with his elbow. It seemed like a collision between the two players, but as replays emerged, Jaco Peyper ultimately decided that there was not enough mitigation to avoid the red card. Clive Woodward did not agree, employing some questionable logic to try and claim it was only worthy of a yellow.

England star Freddie Steward was sent off for making contact with Hugo Keenan's head during the Ireland vs England grand slam decider.

[ tweeted](https://twitter.com/ben_foden/status/1637150768703713285): “Anyone who thinks that was a red card has never played rugby. [also weighed in](https://twitter.com/MikeBubbins/status/1637149905381728261), saying: “That really is incredibly harsh on Freddie Steward. That’s “a rugby incident “ He’s been one of Englands best players this [#SixNations](https://twitter.com/search?q=%23SixNations) , too.” In the 40th minute, Ireland’s Hugo Keenan collided uncomfortably with Steward’s elbow as he stooped to try and collect a dropped ball. He wrote: “Ridiculous.

England fullback Freddie Steward is shown a red card for his clumsy tackle on Ireland's Hugo Keenan during their 2023 Guinness Six Nations match in Dublin.

Mar 10, 2023 Mar 16, 2023 Mar 18, 2023

England fullback Freddie Steward was sent off with a red card during the Six Nations Grand Slam decider match against Ireland...

The players still have a duty of care. The players still have a duty of care.” Never red for Freddie Steward. Always telling, if that was an Irish red you’d be livid.” Utterly ridiculous. Ridiculous. [Joe Marler](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/joe-marler/) was furious, writing: “Ridiculous. On social media, many fans expressed their disappointment with the decision to send Steward off. [March 18, 2023] He could be heard saying, “Oh no. [Owen Farrell](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/owen-farrell/) heard on the ref mic expressing his disbelief at the decision. The decision has sparked a debate among fans, with most believing the punishment was too severe.

Steve Borthwick and Owen Farrell have been asked about the red card brandished at England full-back Freddie Steward in Dublin.

I thought it was a brilliant Test match and the way that we reacted after we got that red card was very good. “But it is not up to us, we don’t make the rules, we don’t put them in place, we don’t hear what goes on on the ref mic and the process that they go through. That is the decision they came to and you have to accept it. “Owen (Farrell) already had the situation under control, and I thought the players adapted to the situation incredibly well. It was an answer he repeated when quizzed again and again on the incident. The young full-back was red-carded by referee Jaco Peyper with the first half clock in the red at the Aviva Stadium after his elbow collided with the face of [Hugo Keenan](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/hugo-keenan/) with the visitors trailing by just 6-10 in the final round of the Guinness Six Nations.

NIK SIMON AT THE AVIVA STADIUM: Ireland coach Andy Farrell, meanwhile, warned the rugby world that his team have 'bigger fish to fry' after clinching an ...

We're on to the World Cup. It was the No 10's last game in this competition and Farrell said: 'This is what dreams are made of. 'There's a lot of stuff going on about head trauma at the moment, so I get it to a certain extent. 'I feel for the ref to a certain degree. 'He didn't intend to hurt anyone; he's actually tried to pull out and not hurt the bloke so it was a complete and total accident for me and I don't think he can be punished like that. there was NO malice in it!': Ellis Genge insists Freddie Steward should NOT have been sent off in pivotal incident of defeat to Ireland...

Referee Jaco Peyper provided his fellow officials and the listening TV audience with a word-perfect summary of how match officials...

Referees do not have the option to deal with the majority of what were once considered unavoidable collisions as accidental no-blame collisions. As those who perhaps played rugby in their younger days, love watching on TV or at their local club and relish the sport’s traditional values are always quick to point out there was no intent in Steward’s actions. When you read social media hysteria please bear this in mind. But none of this matters any more to a sport which is desperately trying to protect its professional participants from the kind of health issues afflicting Steve Thompson and upwards of 200 other ex-pros and its coffers from their resulting legal action. “It is direct to the head with force, he has clear line of sight, he is upright, there is a high level of danger and no mitigation,” he said, before waiting to hear if either touch judge or the TMO disagreed. Referee Jaco Peyper provided his fellow officials and the listening TV audience with a word-perfect summary of how match officials are now required to approach their evaluation of this type of incident then determine the most appropriate sanction.