Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Sale statement: The post-game Jonny Hill altercation with a Bath fan

Sale's Jonny Hill (Photo by Patrick Khachfe/Getty Images)

Beaten Gallagher Premiership semi-finalists Sale have issued a statement following a post-game bust-up at The Rec between out-of-favour England lock Jonny Hill and a celebrating Bath fan.

ADVERTISEMENT

An epic last-four contest had just been settled in favour of Bath on a 31-23 scoreline when Hill, who had sat in the coaches’ box with the Sale management during the game, came down a few steps and got into a tussle with a fan who had turned towards the Sharks bench at full-time and celebrated in their direction rather than looking out at the pitch.

Hill, who is currently out injured, was then seen in front of the media box getting the spectator in a headlock, breaking his glasses and allegedly leaving a cut above his right eye.

Video Spacer

Antoine Dupont is the GREATEST rugby player EVER – Leinster vs Toulouse reaction

Jim Hamilton and Bernard Jackman react to Toulouse beating Leinster in the final of the Investec Champions Cup and discuss Antoine Dupont who was named player of the match.

Video Spacer

Antoine Dupont is the GREATEST rugby player EVER – Leinster vs Toulouse reaction

Jim Hamilton and Bernard Jackman react to Toulouse beating Leinster in the final of the Investec Champions Cup and discuss Antoine Dupont who was named player of the match.

A member of the Sale coaching team intervened to separate the pair and usher Hill away down the steps of the riverside grandstand

The statement read: “Sale Sharks are aware of an incident involving a player and Bath Rugby fan at the final whistle of today’s semi-final.

Match Summary

4
Penalty Goals
2
3
Tries
3
2
Conversions
1
0
Drop Goals
0
88
Carries
87
2
Line Breaks
6
10
Turnovers Lost
16
2
Turnovers Won
1

“The club will work with Bath Rugby to complete an investigation into the incident and will provide no further comment at this time.”

At his post-game press conference, Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson was asked if was he aware of the incident. “News to me. Emotions run high but it’s news to me. Are you sure he wasn’t just having a cuddle? Jonny is not the aggressive type.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I’ll answer those questions when I know what the details are. I can vouch for Jonny’s character right now. He is not an overly aggressive, spiteful person so I don’t what has happened. I will have to ask and find out.”

The Bath supporter, who did want to be named, told reporters: “I was sat there and he came down the stairs, grabbed me around the throat, broke my sunglasses and cut the top of my eye.

“He was like saying to me, ‘Don’t ever do that again’. To be honest, all I want is a new pair of sunglasses. I don’t want to make a big thing. I was sat with my partner and all her family. This is not football.”

Related

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

3 Comments
T
Timmyboy 154 days ago

Bath Fan acting all innocent, like Hill would just walk up and casually do that without a reason too 😂

Load More Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

R
RedWarrior 58 minutes ago
All Blacks lose Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor for Ireland Test

Rankings:

There might be another reason why England are/were targetting breaking into a top4.

RWC '27 draw is on in early '26.

A top 6 ranking then will get you seeded in the seed 1 band (6 pools). A top 4 ranking though should allow you avoid other top 4 seeds as far as the semi. With several strong teams you don't want to have to play an extra game against one of them early.

The loss to NZ was a two point swing for England. It would have put them almost level with France in 4th and only a point behind NZ in 3rd. England can get 1.5 points back the hard way against SA, but that loss to NZ was very hurtful for many reasons.


Scotland meanwhile gained .75 of a point due to their +15 point win against Fiji.

They are now .8 of a point behind Argentina in the race for the top 6.


Incidently, if NZ beat Ireland they will jump to second spot behind SA, knocking Ireland to third. Either way there is a clearer top 3 after this weekend and clear water back to France and then to England.


Again Top 4 seeding means you avoid other top 4s until a potential semi.

Top 6 means you avoid other top 6s in your groups and in the 1/8 final.


Australia-Scotland is therefore a very important match. If Australia lose, they will need to be beating Springboks and All Blacks next year to make that top 6.

If they don't make the top 6 they could have a team like NZ in their pool and then face SA in the 1/8 final. It is imperative for Australia that they advance as far as possible in their own World Cup for many obvious reasons. A last 16 exit would be a disaster. You can be 100% sure that this seeding stuff will be in minds behind the scenes this November.

18 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING 'Gifted' ex-All Blacks XV enforcer makes stunning move to NRL 'Gifted' ex-All Blacks XV enforcer makes stunning move to NRL
Search