England fans were left fuming as Ireland prop Tadhg Furlong escaped punishment for a head shot on flanker Tom Curry during the Six Nations clash at the Allianz Stadium.
The incident occurred in the opening stages of the second half with England trailing the visitors 22-7.
Curry had fallen awkwardly at a breakdown and was on his knees when Irish prop Furlong clattered into him with his forearm, hitting the Englishman square in the face.
Curry folded backwards, overextending his knees, with Furlong falling on top of him.
Tadhg Furlong escapes punishment
Referee Pierre Brousset, who had replaced Andrea Piardi in the first half after the match official sustained an injury.
“The players are going in at the same time, it’s dynamic,” the French referee said to England captain Maro Itoje, explaining why Furlong was not penalised.
“Did he hit his head?” Itoje interupted.
“He is not targeting there,” Brousset replied.
“But did he hit his head?” the captain replied.
“There is no foul play, it’s a rugby collision,” the referee said.
“So you agree, his head was hit,” Itoje said as the referee pressed for the game to continue.
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The replays of the incident surfaced shortly after Henry Pollock was sent to the sin bin after he was deemed to have committed a cynical foul close to his try line.
Ireland quickly capitalised with Dan Sheehan powering over for what was the bonus point try.
Was this a rugby collision?
Maro Itoje argues that Tadhg Furlong makes contact with Tom Curry’s head pic.twitter.com/RgXLhcLksK
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) February 21, 2026
Fans outrage
Outraged England fans took to social media to express their dismay in the decision from the officials.
“Feels salty to criticise the ref at this stage. That should be a card for Furlong all day long,” Rugby Inside Line posted.
While Matthew Leggett stated that “surely” warranted a red card for the Irish prop, adding: “Incredibly dangerous clear-out, straight into Curry’s head, could have broken his neck?”
“Crazy that in an age of TMO there wasn’t a yellow for Furlong,” another fan wrote.
One supporter was just as perplexed as Itoje. “Why is Furlong allowed to snap Curry’s head back like that by the neck, and it isn’t foul play or a yellow?” they wrote.
Another added: “Why is the Irishman allowed to decapitate Curry and get away with it?”
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