Banned Mako Vunipola still available for Six Nations opener

Vunipola received a red card late in Saracens' 37-19 win away to strugglers Newcastle in the English Premiership on Saturday following a dangerous tackle on Falcons hooker Bryan Byrne.

Suspensions in rugby union traditionally run across all competitions a player is involved in, with the 32-year-old Vunipola now ruled out of Saracens' Premiership matches against Leicester and Exeter as well as the north London club's European Champions Cup fixtures with French teams Bordeaux-Begles and Lyon.

But that leaves him free for World Cup bronze medallists England's Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on February 3 should head coach Steve Borthwick decide to include him in his matchday 23 for the Stadio Olimpico match.

Vunipola's availability is set to be a welcome boost for Borthwick given England's three World Cup squad loosehead props -- Ellis Genge, Joe Marler and Bevan Rodd -- are all currently injured.

Vunipola's case was heard by an independent disciplinary panel, with England's governing Rugby Football Union saying Wednesday: "The player admitted that foul play took place, but not that it met the red card threshold.

"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."

Players can only go on the programme once in their career -- and can usually expect to have one game removed from their ban as a result. But that option was no longer open to Vunipola because of his prior involvement in the course.