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Tom Curry has been suspended for England’s Rugby World Cup matches vs Japan (Sunday September 17) and Chile (Saturday September 23) after his third-minute red card vs Argentina in Marseille on Saturday for a head-on-head tackle on Pumas full-back Juan Cruz Mallia

England back-row Tom Curry has been suspended for England’s Rugby World Cup pool games vs Japan and Chile

England back-row Tom Curry has been handed a two-game ban for his Rugby World Cup red card vs Argentina, for a head-on-head high tackle.

Curry was red-carded in Marseille on Saturday via World Rugby’s bunker review system – just as colleagues Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola were last month – as his yellow card for a head-on-head contact with Pumas full-back Juan Cruz Mallia was upgraded.

The ban means Curry will miss World Cup Pool D matches vs Japan (September 17) and Chile (September 23).

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England’s Elliot Daly reflected on rugby’s tackle-height controversy ahead of Curry’s disciplinary hearing

The 25-year-old accepted he had committed a red card offence at the hearing, and saw an initial six-week suspension mitigated down to three weeks, and then two weeks, with the RFU confirming Curry will attend a Coaching Intervention Programme in lieu of missing a third match.

“The player accepted the red card and was suspended for two matches (subject to completion of the Coaching Intervention Programme). The independent Disciplinary Committee was chaired by Adam Casselden SC (Australia), joined by former players John Langford (Australia) and Jamie Corsi (Wales),” World Rugby confirmed.

“The player accepted that foul play occurred and that the offence warranted a red card.

Curry came from a distance to tackle Mallia as the latter returned to deck following an aerial take

And ended up catching the Puma head-on-head in the tackle

Curry was sent to the sin-bin, and was then shown a red card after World Rugby’s bunker review system

“The Committee noted that the offence carries a mandatory minimum mid-range sanction (six matches), and having considered the mitigating factors, including admission of foul play and correctness of the red card at the first opportunity, an exemplary disciplinary record, apology to the player and good character, reduced the sanction by the maximum mitigation of 50 per cent.”

George Ford’s kicking proved pivotal as England posted a remarkable 27-10 Pool D victory over Argentina at the Stade Velodrome, despite the early dismissal of Curry.

Curry is the third England player in a month to be red carded and serve a ban, as four weeks ago at Twickenham, England skipper Farrell caught Wales flanker Taine Basham direct to the face with a high tackle, using a technique that has got him into bother previously, and was shown a red card.

Three weeks ago in Dublin, England No 8 Billy Vunipola was dismissed for a shoulder-to-head tackle on Ireland prop Andrew Porter, in which he made no attempt to wrap his arm.