'That's bollocks': Jono Ross banned after his latest yellow card

Jono Ross has had his season ended early at Sale as he was banned for one match following the accumulation of three yellow cards over the course of the 2021/22 campaign. An RFU statement on Thursday read: “The case of Sale Sharks’ player Jono Ross was heard on papers last night [Wednesday] by Charles Cuthbert as the sole judicial officer.  

“It relates to Ross receiving three yellow cards for foul play during the season contrary to RFU regulation 19. He received his third yellow card in the 65th minute of the game against Wasps on May 21 contrary to World Rugby Law 9.28 which states that a player must not disrespect the authority of a match official. 

“The player received a one-week ban which means he will miss the game against Bristol on June 4.”

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Bristol and England’s Dave Attwood joins the guys this week to reveal some loose stories from a well-traveled career. We hear about his run-in with Owen Farell, why his modern man approach didn’t go down well with a certain head coach, and skiing in France with the Galacticos of Toulon. We also get Dave’s first-hand account of Carl Fearns and Gavin Henson’s bust-up and the fallout from Sam Burgess’ move to Bath.

The written judgement published after the hearing included testimony from referee Ian Tempest, who was in charge last Friday night in Coventry. “In the process of awarding a Wasps try a few Sale players were questioning me as to whether the player had scored. 

“When looking at the floor where there were a number of players I observed Jono Ross make eye contact with myself and tell me, ‘That is bollocks’. As a result, I issued him a yellow card. When he entered the field he apologised for his choice of words.”

In reaching his decision, Cuthbert outlined: “The club accepted the charge. By way of mitigation, the club acknowledged that while the player has previously been suspended for one week for totting up three yellow cards (in the 20/21 season), he is regularly amongst the competition’s top tackling stats. 

“The player had apologised to the referee for his comment on May 21. The player does not have the benefit of youth or inexperience given his significant playing experience. While he has apologised he does not have the benefit of a completely clear record. In the circumstances, a one-week sanction is imposed.”

• Click here to read the written judgement from the disciplinary hearing