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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.
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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.
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“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.
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“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.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
This 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….
12 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….
77 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!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
12 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
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
12 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
12 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
12 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
12 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to comments