Maro Itoje has been cleared for action in Saracens’ Premiership play-off push, in a significant boost to the Men In Black’s title defence.
Itoje has avoided suspension at a disciplinary hearing, and can get straight back to work with second-placed Saracens preparing for their last two regular-season league matches.
The England lock was cited for a dangerous tackle on Alfie Barbeary in Saracens’ 15-12 Premiership win at Bath on Friday night.
Itoje was sin-binned for the challenge on Bath No 8 Barbeary during the match, but he was later called to an independent disciplinary hearing that was held on Tuesday.
The three-strong panel dismissed the charge however, deeming the yellow card sanction appropriate punishment.
Itoje can press on without missing any Saracens action then, with Mark McCall’s men making the trip to resurgent Bristol on May 11, before hosting Sale a week later.
“The panel heard and considered evidence from Maro Itoje and the Bath player and were able to examine the footage of the incident many times and from many different angles,” said independent disciplinary panel chair Philip Evans KC.
“In particular, the panel watched the footage from the rear view of Itoje which, when considered alongside the rest of the footage, demonstrated it was more likely than not that contact was not initially with the head or simultaneously with the head and the body. Instead, contact with the head appears to come later and can properly be described as more glancing than direct in nature.
“In all of the circumstances, the panel did not conclude that a high degree of danger was created and therefore the on-field decision stands.”
Saracens are gunning for a seventh league title, and Itoje’s availability adds serious firepower to their front-five arsenal.
The north Londoners are also expected to have Billy Vunipola available for their run-in too, with the England No 8 expected to avoid a club suspension.
Vunipola is back in Saracens training after his arrest on Sunday in a bar in Mallorca.
The 31-year-old now looks set to end his glittering Saracens tenure on his own terms before heading to Montpellier this summer.
Vunipola has been central to four of Saracens’ six league wins, and all three of their European triumphs, and wants one more big title before ending his 11 years at the club.
