'Serious controversy here': Quins' win questioned as Bath make report

It looks like Harelquins’ thrilling 40-36 Gallagher Premiership victory over Bath could yet be marred by controversy after a complaint has been made that a player returned to the field before his sin-binning had elapsed.

Despite trailing significantly, Bath staged a remarkable comeback in the latter half sparked by tries from Will Muir, Alfie Barbeary and others.

However, Bath’s attempt to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat may have been partially thwarted by the presence of a sin-binned player on the pitch, giving the hosts an unfair advantage.

Steven Kitshoff on the Behind the Ruck hot seat

Steven Kitshoff on the Behind the Ruck hot seat

According to the television time clock, it appears that second-row replacement Irne Herbst, who was carded at 63 minutes, was back on the pitch and playing just eight minutes later, completing a clearout out at a ruck at 71 minutes.

Rugby Inside Line wrote on X: “There could be some serious controversy here. 63:52 – Herbst yellow carded 71:52 – Yellow card still says 3:18 71:58 – Herbst makes the tackle and clears out the ruck If the TV clocks are correct he is on the pitch two minutes early… Potentially huge ramifications.”

There could be some serious controversy here.

63:52 – Herbst yellow carded

71:52 – Yellow card still says 3:18

71:58 – Herbst makes the tackle and clears out the ruck

If the TV clocks are correct he is on the pitch two minutes early…

Potentially huge ramifications. pic.twitter.com/CafBIoWHuy

— RugbyInsideLine (@RugbyInsideLine) March 30, 2024

Bath director of rugby Johann van Graan says he was aware of the incident and has reported it to match officials, implying that he expects something will come of the matter.

‘Ja, it seemed like it,” said Van Graan when asked by TNT Sports about whether or not a player had returned early from the bin. “We flagged it to the referee afterwards so I’ll trust the process.”

In the second weekend in a row that Gallagher Premiership officials have been thrown into the spotlight, following last weekend’s TMO audio faux pas during last weekend’s Harelquins loss to Saracens.

Former England international Austin Healey, who was working as part of TNT Sports’ team at the match, spotted a clear-out by Harlequins captain Stephan Lewies, when he appeared to slide on his knees into Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell.

And TMO Stuart Terheege was overheard telling referee Christophe Ridley on a microphone during the live broadcast: “The problem I have got now is that it looks like Austin has instigated it, because we’re late, so I don’t want to talk about it, okay?”

Lewies had received a yellow card during the first-half of a game that Saracens won 52-7 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

additional reporting PA