Newcastle, who are at the bottom of the Premiership despite winning their last three matches, face losing their second row Calum Green for the rest of the season after he was cited for allegedly biting the Sale hooker Rob Webber last weekend.
The incident occurred in the 22nd minute at St James’s Park when Green was held in a headlock by Webber, who has received a citing commissioner’s warning for the act, at a ruck. Sale claim that Green responded by biting Webber on the hand.
The hooker complained to the referee, Craig Maxwell-Keys, who reviewed the incident and did not find anything in the video evidence to justify a red card. The citing commissioner Andy Blyth, who had access to more camera angles, did and Green will appear for a disciplinary panel on Wednesday.
Green has started all of Newcastle’s 17 Premiership matches this season and has missed only two league matches in the last three campaigns. If he is found guilty, he would face a minimum ban of 12 weeks, before mitigating factors, rising to 24 weeks or more if he was deemed to have acted with premeditation. Whatever, he would miss the Falcons last five matches in their battle to avoid the drop.
Worcester are the club immediately above them and the Warriors have banned a supporter who is being investigated by Avon and Somerset police for allegedly throwing punches in the South Stand during last Saturday’s match against Bristol at Ashton Gate.
The incident was covered on social media where it was reported that the bearded man, who was wearing a Warriors’ training jacket, aimed several punches at a spectator sitting a few rows in front of him. Others tried to restrain him before he was led away by stewards and told to leave.
“We are aware that police are investigating an incident at Saturday’s match against Bristol Bears at Ashton Gate in which a supporter wearing club replica kit was ejected from the ground for allegedly throwing a punch,” said Worcester in a statement. “We are cooperating with Bristol and Avon and Somerset police in their investigations.
“We take a zero-tolerance approach to anti-social behaviour. We are a family club and subscribe to rugby’s core values, one of which is respect for others.” The supporter has been banned from all Worcester home matches while the investigation is being conducted.