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Anthony Watson banned following tweet posted while icing his knee
Injured England international Anthony Watson has been handed a one-week suspended ban for a social media message he posted about the Bath Gallagher Premiership defeat to Wasps on October 30. The 2017 and 2021 Lions Test series pick was selected in the original England squad for their three-game Autumn Nations Series. However, he suffered an ACL rupture when playing in the league against Saracens on October 17.
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That injury will, unfortunately, likely sideline him until the start of the 2022/23 season. In the meantime, Watson has had to watch from the sidelines as his club struggles and the sixth Bath defeat in a campaign where they have so far lost all seven matches to leave them bottom of the table infuriated him so much that he expressed his anger on social media.
During the second half of the 17-27 defeat for Bath at home to Wasps, Watson tweeted: “Here we go again. Where he is supposed to wrap?! Obsurd (sic) decision).” It was in relation to the incident that resulted in a red card for his teammate Mike Williams for a tackle on Jimmy Gopperth.
An exception was taken to this comment and Watson had to appear at an independent disciplinary hearing where the panel that comprised Gareth Graham (chair) with Julian Morris and Rob Vickerman.
An RFU statement read: “Watson was charged with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Union and/or The Game, contrary to RFU rule 5.12. This was for comments on social media about a decision made by the referee during the match between Bath and Wasps on October 30.
The verdicts have been published following hearings into a Bath red card and comments made to the referee… #GallagherPrem #BATvWAShttps://t.co/YgpBaCdJrc
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 3, 2021
“Watson accepted the charge and was given a one-week suspension by the independent disciplinary panel. That one-week ban is suspended until the end of the 2022/23 season. Watson is required to prepare and deliver a presentation to the senior squad, the academy squad, and the rugby department at Bath by January 14.”
In the twelve-page written judgment accompanying the RFU statement, Watson explained in a written statement: “I was sat at home icing my knee when I decided to upload a tweet questioning the decision of the referee in a game concerning both my club and teammate. I would like to record my remorse for my actions, it was never my intention to bring the game into disrepute and my ignorance surrounding the matter is not acceptable.
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“My actions cannot be explained simply by shifting the blame or placing extreme emphasis on my circumstances. I understand I must be accountable for my actions. However, contextually I believe it’s important to understand how difficult the past month or so has been for me.
“A week prior to this game I suffered a potentially season-ending knee injury, which alone is not the easiest thing to deal with. However, when coupled with the fact that a mere two years ago I spent 13 months on the sideline watching my team and rehabilitating a double ruptured achilles, it can explain some level of the frustration I am feeling.
“I am unable to contribute to my team in the most constructive manner I know how. This is further exacerbated when you analyse the poor start to the season my club has had, and the personal desperation for my club to win games and succeed. Whilst again, I will emphasise that none of this goes a way to explain my actions, I would like the context of my personal situation to be understood.
“In addition to this, my tweet remained uploaded until November 9 purely because I did not want to interfere with the process of the disciplinary (I was notified on the 1st so had ample time to delete). This was not by any means not deleted due to hard-headedness.
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“I deleted it on November 9 when the disciplinary hearing had scheduled a date and everything was formalised. It was also done prior to any media outlets being notified to stop any unnecessary press activity. Once again, I am deeply sorry for my actions, it is not something that will happen again.”
At the hearing, the judicial panel outlined they had received a letter from Mike Priestley of the RFU referees union, and Tim Miller, an RFI referees council representative. It stated: “It is no secret that the number of referees taking up the whistle again after such a prolonged layoff is causing concern.
Stuart Hooper has spoken three days after a brutal Sunday at The Rec where Anthony Watson suffered serious injury and Bath were embarrassed by Saracens#England #Bath #BATvSAR #GallagherPrem #Lions
https://t.co/VhwvWDPYoG— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 20, 2021
“It’s a situation exacerbated by many of our members leaving the game having become disillusioned with, amongst other things, persistent challenging of their decisions and unfortunately, some serious incidences of match official abuse.
“Worse still, enticing new referees, especially young match officials, into the game becomes that more challenging. The refereeing community is a relatively tight-knit one and incidents of abuse and disrespect for the role soon permeate amongst officials, undermining their confidence and commitment.
“Furthermore, we cannot stress the impact that poor behaviour towards match officials, be it challenging decisions, appealing, disrespect or abuse, within the professional end of our game has on the wider game.”
- Click here for the full written judgment issued by the RFU
Comments on RugbyPass
The rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
76 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to comments