Darcy Swain: Australia second row to miss rest of England Test series after head-butting Jonny Hill

Australia's Darcy Swain shown a red card for headbutting England's Jonny Hill during the first Test; watch the second Test between Australia and England in Brisbane on Saturday July 9, live on Sky Sports Action from 10.15am (10.55am kick off)

Darcy Swain was shown a red card for Australia after an incident involving Jonny Hill

Darcy Swain will miss the final two matches of Australia's Test series against England after his red card for head-butting Jonny Hill was upheld by a Rugby World judicial committee. 

The second rower was sent off in the first half of Australia's 30-28 win in Perth after head-butting Hill in response to his hair being pulled.

Swain accepted at a hearing he had committed an act of foul play, however, disagreed it warranted a red card.

Highlights of the first Test as Australia face England in Perth

His initial six-week ban was, however, reduced to two weeks on the basis of "mitigating factors including acknowledgement of foul play, clean disciplinary record, conduct at the hearing and expression of remorse".

As a result, he will miss the final two Test matches against England that are scheduled for July 9 and July 16. Both matches are live on Sky Sports.

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Swain has the right to appeal within 48 hours of the decision.

England are in action for the second Test of the three-Test series vs Australia in Brisbane on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Action from 10.15am (10.55am kick off).

Also See:

Where do the Wallabies turn next at second row?

Sky Sports Journalist Michael Cantillon...

While losing Swain to suspension in and of itself may not be the biggest blow Australia could have suffered - albeit the 25-year-old is off the back of an impressive Super Rugby campaign with the Brumbies - it is their lack of other options which make it particularly damaging.

Indeed, with so many of their experienced second rows playing overseas, and not among the permitted three overseas-based players selected by Dave Rennie for this series (Japan-based out-half Quade Cooper, centre Samu Kerevi and wing Marika Koroibete chosen), there is a distinct lack of Test experience to call upon.

Within the squad, Nic Frost and Jed Holloway are uncapped, Ned Hanigan has 25 caps but these have almost exclusively come in the back row, while Matt Philip (21 caps) hasn't started for the Wallabies since 2017, and 33-year-old Cadeyrn Neville made his Test debut vs England alongside Swain last week.

Up against an England pack which places huge significance on the lineout, essentially picking three second rows in Hill, Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes to increase their set-piece defensive threat, the Wallabies are now depleted in that area heading into the second Test.

Izack Rodda is out injured, and even more frustratingly for Wallabies fans and head coach Rennie, outstanding La Rochelle lock Will Skelton - central to the French club's 2021/22 European Cup success - and towering Toulouse second row Rory Arnold are both fit but ineligible under Rugby Australia's three-player overseas limit selection policy.

Bumper July of rugby on Sky Sports

Saturday, July 9

New Zealand vs Ireland - live on Sky Sports Action from 7:30am (kick-off at 8:05am)

Australia vs England - live on Sky Sports Action from 10:15am (kick-off at 10:55am)

South Africa vs Wales - live on Sky Sports Action from 3:30pm (kick-off at 4:05pm)

Argentina vs Scotland - live on Sky Sports Action from 7:30pm (kick-off at 8:10pm)

Tuesday, July 12

Maori All Blacks vs Ireland - live on Sky Sports Action from 8am (kick off is at 8.05am)

Saturday, July 16

New Zealand vs Ireland - live on Sky Sports Action from 7:30am (kick-off at 8:05am)

Australia vs England - live on Sky Sports Action from 10:15am (kick-off at 10:55am)

South Africa vs Wales - live on Sky Sports Action from 3:30pm (kick-off at 4:05pm)

Argentina vs Scotland - live on Sky Sports Action from 7:30pm (kick-off at 8:10pm)

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