The heretofore mystery player at the centre of the St James Park biting incident has been cited
Newcastle lock Calum Green will appear before a disciplinary panel accused of biting Sale’s Rob Webber.
The alleged incident occurred during the first half of Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership match at St James’ Park, which the Falcons won 22-17.
Green, 28, has been cited by independent citing commissioner Andy Blyth and faces a hearing on Wednesday.
“The Falcons second rower is alleged to have bitten an opponent in the 22nd minute of the first half of the Gallagher Premiership match at St James’ Park contrary to Law 9.12 – a player must not physically abuse anyone including biting,” read a statement from the Rugby Football Union.
Sale hooker Webber has received a citing commissioner’s warning for his involvement in the incident.
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Webber claimed he was bitten on the arm by a Falcons player after a first-half melee involving several players from both sides, sparked by a clash between Webber and Falcons lock Calum Green.
Director of rugby Steve Diamond said: “I think the citing officer will have to have a look at it and he’ll decide what happens. Rob Webber got a bite mark that needed treatment at half-time and after the game.
“We couldn’t see anything from where we were but there is clear evidence of a bite mark. I don’t know who was responsible.
“Rob has clearly gone to the referee and showed him the bite and it’s bleeding and the referee said there’s no clear evidence, but what more evidence do you need?
“I must be on a different planet to those three officials – it’s madness – but we’ll see.
“We can’t detract that from the result. Newcastle deserved to win and the disciplinarians will take their view on it and we move on.
“I don’t know who it was. I couldn’t see the incident – I was 60 yards away but the referee was two yards away and he said he couldn’t see it.”
“We took some poor options in the first half and fair play to Newcastle, they battled hard and went in just 10-6 down and we couldn’t match their enthusiasm in the second half which was very disappointing.”
Newcastle director of rugby Dean Richards indicated the Falcons will co-operate with any disciplinary procedure and investigation.
“We are aware of the bite allegations and we’ll be having a look at that,” he said.
“An allegation has been made and I’ll look very closely at it and if there is anything in it I’ll expect a citing and then we’ll deal with it in due course.
“But we’ll also look very closely ourselves when we get all the angles on it and the recordings. We’ll look at it and see if anything needs to be done in due course.”
Newcastle were off the pace at half-time but hit Sale with a converted Toby Flood try and three more penalties from Sonatane Takulua, who knocked over 17 points.
“I didn’t say much to them at half-time,” said Richards. “They sit down and talk it through themselves and they tidied it up and delivered.
“We probably made them look good in the first 20 minutes and we didn’t get our exits and strategies right, but they are a good side.
“We enjoy playing here and the atmosphere was fantastic and the supporters today were unbelievable.
“Momentum is everything so I think we’re doing all right. We set a target of five wins and we’re three into that, so we’re doing all right and if we get another two we should be somewhere near being safe – but then with Worcester winning today (27-25 at Bristol) even that’s not sure.
“I’ve said it all along this year, whoever goes down it will be a really good team that is going down because there are 12 really good teams out there. I just hope it’s not us that do go down.”
PA
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
7 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
7 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
7 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments