Freddie Steward

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 captain Owen Farrell was left bemused as teammate Freddie Steward was shown a straight red card against Ireland in the final game of the 2023 Six ...

Former England star Austin Healey also chimed into the debate, taking to Twitter to write: "Bulls***!!! So I think the referee got it wrong, it’s a yellow card.” "But as a rugby incident, it’s a rugby incident, it’s a yellow card. The collision was analysed by referee Jaco Peyper and his TMO, with the official judging that a red card was warranted. Red card? “By the letter of the law it’s a red card," he said.

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.

The very first thing England captain did, when ITV collared him for a chat, was to pay tribute to the hosts. The victors.

[Rugby Pass 4.5/10:](https://www.rugbypass.com/news/england-player-ratings-vs-ireland-2023-guinness-six-nations/) “With Zach Mercer back from France when England will next play he needed a big game following last week’s anonymity, but it didn’t materialise. [Planet Rugby 6/10](https://www.planetrugby.com/news/england-player-ratings-forward-pack-fronts-up-against-ireland-while-freddie-steward-is-sent-off): “The number eight didn’t quite rise to the occasion again, and while he did have some success with his carries, he still isn’t fronting up physically. There was no impact carrying and his defence was exposed for the opening Irish try, getting flummoxed by the inside pass when trying to provide protection in the first channel away from a maul..” [Mail Online 5/10:](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-11876341/PLAYER-RATINGS-Freddie-Stewards-red-card-cost-England-Johnny-Sexton-Ireland-leader.html) “Challenge on Johnny Sexton gifted Ireland penalty in first half but did share of defending.” Better here, but was it enough long-term” Deserved kudos for holding Johnny Sexton up over the line off a penalty tap but otherwise struggled to impose himself in the first half. The victors.

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...

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.

The debate around the red card shown to Freddie Steward during Ireland and England's Six Nations game in Dublin last night continues...

I am a major advocate of making the game safer, but I don’t see what else he could do, there. It’s just one of those things that happen when you play a contact sport in my opinion?????? It’s just one of those things that happen when you play a contact sport in my opinion.” Newcastle Falcons press officer Mark Smith wrote: “Is Freddie Steward meant to just vaporise and disappear? “He is stepping and slowing and turning to get out of the contact area, and has been punished by being sent off. He and many others argue that Steward did not intend to make contact with Keenan’s head and that the collision was simply an unfortunate accident which is impossible to avoid in a contact sport.

As the Freddie Steward red card for England against Ireland showed, yet again, rugby is caught between a rock and a hard place in its bid to be rid of ...

Imagine the fury if that had been a turning point against the Irish, and Steward had stayed on? Successful or not, the variation cannot be seen in this year’s World Cup as there is a moratorium on law changes. I would also urge some respect for the referee’s simple feel of what has gone on as he runs alongside play, a few metres away. It is possible that somewhere among the sizzling synapses was a thought of standing his ground. If he decided “ah, whatever, I’ll just whack him in the head” then, of course, hang him out to dry. Some say it did not change the match much as Ireland were likely to win anyway but on another day it might have completely changed the course of events.