The Saracens forward George Kruis will be available for England's Six Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff after he escaped with a three-week suspension for the dangerous tackle he committed against Gloucester at Kingsholm last Friday.

The lock, who made his Test debut as a replacement in November, was found guilty of upending the Tongan winger David Halaifonua but a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel ruled that the offence was not at the top end of the scale.Kruis pleaded guilty having been cited for the tackle, for which he received a yellow card.

Kruis will miss Saracens’ last two European Cup pool matches and England Saxons’ game in Ireland at the end of the month but will be free to take his place in Stuart Lancaster’s Six Nations squad, which is due to be named next week.

(Guardian service)