Sale Sharks issue statement over Nathan Jibulu biting ban

Following the guilty verdict reached by the independent disciplinary panel into the Nathan Jibulu biting incident, Sale Sharks have issued a 121-word statement.

While reiterating that such behaviour is unacceptable, the Champions Cup quarter-finalists vowed to support the young hooker through a ‘difficult period’.

The statement read: “Sale Sharks accepts the verdict of the independent disciplinary committee and the ban handed out to hooker Nathan Jibulu relating to an incident during our Investec Champions Cup last 16 fixture against Harlequins on Saturday evening.

“Nathan admitted to the offence and both the club and player agree that his actions were unacceptable. We are united in our belief that our players should always act as role models and that such behaviour has no place on a rugby pitch or in society.

“The club will be conducting its own internal disciplinary process but we will continue to fully support Nathan through what has been, and will be, a difficult period.

“The club will be making no further comment on the matter.”

Jibulu was given a six-week ban for biting Harlequins replacement prop Will Hobson during last weekend’s Champions Cup Round of 16 tie.

As Jibulu’s ban only expires just before the end of the season and Luke Cowan-Dickie is out for the remainder of the campaign with a broken wrist, this presents Sale with a problem at hooker.

Jibulu has played more PREM minutes (505) at hooker than any of his teammates, even though he was press ganged into playing openside in the defeat to Bath at the end of last month due to injuries in the back row.

England ace Cowan-Dickie is next on 469 minutes, with Ethan Caine the only other Sale player to wear the No.2 jersey in the league this season, clocking up 133 minutes.

Sharks boss Alex Sanderson has ruled out bringing anyone in as cover and plans to rely on Caine and England U20 international Alfie Longstaff, who has made just one appearance off the bench in the PREM Cup this season and has been on loan at Coventry in the Champ.

“We’ve got some experience in Ethan Kane and, you know, depending on the hearing, we lean into the mercurial talents of Alfie Longstaff,” Sanderson said before the results of Jibulu hearing came through.