How long can Farrell be prevented?

The RFU Regulations on Penalties Entry Points state that any act of vicious play resulting in head and / or neck contact will result in at least a medium term penalty.

So on paper, the minimum penalty Number 10 could receive is a six-week ban if it is considered a mid-range crime.

In reality, however, it could theoretically end up with a three-week ban, with committees having discretion to cut penalties in half.

With Farrell having only served one two-week ban in his career – despite recent concerns and incidents about his approach to intervention – coupled with the fact that he apologized to Atkinson and waited on the sidelines to do the same again, he’s likely to see a drop of sorts.

The maximum entry point is at least 10 weeks, while the maximum ban it can receive is actually a year.

He is almost certain to be disqualified from the Saracens Champions Cup quarter-finals against Leinster on 19 September, and may miss the Gallagher Premier season’s end.

He’s at risk of missing out on England matches too, with Eddie Jones’ team making their first game since March on October 25 against the Barbarians, before completing the Six Nations Championship against Italy on October 31. Farrell will have to exceed seven weeks to play. Miss any international match.