Henry Slade got a red card for this tackle on Kurt-Lee Arendse Getty Images

Henry Slade was red carded for this hit on Kurt-Lee Arendse. Photo: Getty Images.

Slade let off the hook for head high hit on Kurt-Lee Arendse

Henry Slade free to play for England in Six Nations after red card he received for a high tackle on Kurt-Lee Arendse was rescinded.

Henry Slade got a red card for this tackle on Kurt-Lee Arendse Getty Images

Henry Slade was red carded for this hit on Kurt-Lee Arendse. Photo: Getty Images.

Henry Slade is free to play for England in the Six Nations after the red card he received for a high tackle on Kurt-Lee Arendse in the Champions Cup was rescinded on Wednesday.

Playing for the Exeter Chiefs against the Bulls in Pretoria over the weekend, Slade was handed his marching orders by replacement referee Thomas Charabas (France) in the 54th minute for a dangerous and reckless high shot on Arendse.

The manner of Slade’s tackle was in contravention of Law 9.13.

It was initially thought that the incident and the subsequent red card would mean Slade will be handed a suspension of some sort and thus be unavailable for selection for the opening stage of England’s Six Nations campaign.

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EPCR STATEMENT ON SLADE RED CARD DECISION:

But on Wednesday, the European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) announced that the decision had been overturned by an independent disciplinary hearing.

An independent disciplinary committee considered video imagery of the incident and heard evidence from Slade, who did not accept the red card decision, and heard submissions from the player’s legal representative, Richard Smith KC, from the Exeter Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter, and from the EPCR disciplinary officer Liam McTiernan,” an EPCR statement read.

“The committee decided that while Slade had committed an act of foul play, it did not warrant a sending off. The red card decision was therefore dismissed and he is free to play.”

The EPCR have the right to appeal the disciplinary committee’s the decision.

The 29-year-old Slade is now also free to the Exeter Chiefs in their final Champions Cup pool match against French side Castles at Sandy Park in Exeter on Saturday afternoon.

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England star Henry Slade had his red card revoked.
England star Henry Slade had his red card revoked and his available to play. Photo: PA.