Last Updated: 23/08/23 9:07am
Billy Vunipola is set to miss England’s first World Cup match after being banned following his red card against Ireland.
Vunipola has been banned for three matches, but it will be reduced to two if he agrees to attend tackling school.
Captain Owen Farrell will already miss the first two matches of the Rugby World Cup after an independent disciplinary hearing upheld his red card on Tuesday, handing the fly-half a four-match suspension including Pool D fixtures against Argentina and Japan.
Head coach Steve Borthwick faced another anxious wait over the fate of Vunipola, the only specialist No 8 in his World Cup squad.
He received a red card in Saturday’s loss in Ireland.
England’s Fixtures
| August 26 | vs | Fiji |
| September 9 (RWC) | vs | Argentina |
| September 17 (RWC) | vs | Japan |
| September 23 (RWC) | vs | Chile |
| October 7 (RWC) | vs | Samoa |
What’s next for England?
England next host Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday, August 26, in their final Rugby World Cup warm-up clash, before heading to France. They face Argentina in Marseille on Saturday, September 9 in their World Cup opener.
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