Red-carded Williams and Bath kitman Middleton learn their fate
Bath duo Mike Williams and kit manager Steve Middleton have both been banned following separate incidents during last Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership defeat at home to Wasps. Williams, the soon-to-be 30-year-old forward, was red-carded in the 47th minute by referee Ian Tempest for dangerous play at a ruck on Jimmy Gopperth while Middleton was ordered from the field of play for comments made to the referee.
Williams contested the charge but was given a four-week suspension by the independent disciplinary panel comprising Jeremy Summers (chair) with Mitch Read and Tony Wheat. The player is free to play again on December 7.
In the written judgment it was reported that in the evidence provided by Bath player Williams that “he was clear his bicep had contacted with Gopperth’s shoulder because he had noticed a ‘corker’ on his bicep that had resulted from the incident.
“He did not feel that he had come into contact with Gopperth’s head or neck at any time and he had not grasped Gopperth in a headlock. He had effected a very dominant clear out and Gopperth had gone straight backwards. At no point had he acted illegally and he had attempted to wrap.
“In response to questions from the panel, the player indicated that he had changed his technique to address the new laws relating to head contact. It was put to him that that the action he had deployed to clear out Gopperth was high risk and highly dangerous. In response, he stated that he had practised the technique at low speed.
Disciplinary update | Mike Williams was given a four week suspension for dangerous play in Bath's match against Wasps.
Read the full judgement ? https://t.co/ux023TVQKF pic.twitter.com/uKFtbEqz0B
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) November 3, 2021
“The player had given clear evidence that he had not made contact with Gopperth’s head and should be viewed as a credible witness. There was nothing in the footage that allowed the panel to discount his evidence. The rearview angle, in particular, supported the player’s case that contact was bicep to shoulder. There was insufficient evidence to safely conclude that there had been contact with Gopperth’s head.”
However, the panel went on to make the following findings which included: “The player’s right bicep initially struck the left-hand side of Gopperth’s face, and the player’s position that the contact had been with the shoulder was rejected.
“The player’s right forearm had then hooked up and made contact with the neck and/or chin of Gopperth and the player’s defence that he had hooked across Gopperth’s chest was similarly rejected. The contact with the head involved a high degree of force and a high degree of danger.
“After careful consideration, the panel was satisfied that the player had been attempting to lawfully clear out Gopperth, as demonstrated by his actions. He had, however, committed to a high-risk technique which he had then executed imperfectly.”
With no mitigation applied to the four-week entry point, Williams will now miss this weekend’s Bath Premiership match versus Leicester, the Premiership Cup game against Gloucester and the Premiership game versus Exeter. However, he can become available for the fourth game of his sanction, the December 4 league game versus Northampton, if he successfully completes a tackle school intervention. Tackle school was something recently undertaken by Sale’s Rohan Janse van Rensburg.
Regarding kit manager Middleton, he accepted the charge and was given a one-match suspension by the same independent disciplinary panel. This prevents him from attending next weekend’s game in any capacity other than a spectator. Middleton also needs to deliver a presentation to the non-playing members of staff at Bath on the need to uphold standards and the core values of the game by December 2.
“The kit manager accepted the charge of misconduct brought against him and apologised for his behaviour. The panel considered that a period of suspension was required, consistent with other recent decisions and that a strong message needed to be issued to the game. There is a growing problem with the conduct of non-playing personnel and disciplinary panels will not hesitate in taking strong action to combat this.”
The referee from last month's Springboks-All Blacks classic on the Gold Coast has just been in with England… ?#AutumnNationsSeries #England #ENGvTON
https://t.co/n9XRd06PEC— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 3, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
I 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.
8 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.
8 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
8 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?
8 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.
1 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 commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to comments