England's Rugby World Cup plans were dealt a fresh blow when Billy Vunipola joined captain Owen Farrell in being banned for their opener after receiving a three-week suspension for his red card in a warm-up match against Ireland.
Vunipola was initially sent to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle on Andrew Porter during Saturday's 29-10 defeat in Dublin, but the offense was upgraded to a red by the bunker review system.
An independent disciplinary hearing reduced the entry-level ban of six weeks to three because of mitigating factors and Vunipola, the only No 8 in England's squad, will have another week removed if he attends World Rugby's 'tackle school.'
The 30-year-old back-rower is now ruled out of England's final warm-up fixture against Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday and their World Cup opener against Argentina in Marseille on September 9.
His suspension was announced the morning after Farrell was hit with a four-match ban after his red card - for a dangerous tackle on Wales flanker Taine Basham - was upheld.
Vunipola will be available for the Pool D match against Japan in Nice on September 17, but fly-half Farrell will not be able to be selected by England coach Steve Borthwick until the final group games in France against Chile and Samoa.
During a video hearing, Vunipola admitted his shoulder-led tackle to the head of Porter was a red card offense triggering an automatic six-game ban.
But a three-strong panel found mitigation in Vunipola's previously clean record, his immediate apology and the lack of aggravating factors.
Billy Vunipola
Owen Farrell was hit with a four-match ban.
