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Newcastle Rugby Director Steve Diamond Suspended Following Misconduct Towards Match Officials
Newcastle Falcons director of rugby, Steve Diamond, has received a season-ending suspension for verbally abusing match officials after a recent Premiership Rugby match. The disciplinary action follows an incident where Diamond directed expletive-laden language towards officials, resulting in a six-match ban. This sanction was imposed after a hearing investigated Diamond’s conduct in the wake of Newcastle’s narrow defeat to Exeter Chiefs.
Details of the Incident
The suspension stems from events occurring on March 29th, after Newcastle’s 15-17 loss to Exeter. A key moment of contention in the match was a passage of play involving Exeter centre Tamati Tua and Newcastle wing Alex Hearle. It appeared Tua’s elbow contacted Hearle’s head with sufficient force to dislodge his mouthguard. Hearle has been sidelined since this incident, which Diamond believed warranted review by the match officials.
According to the disciplinary judgement, Diamond, feeling aggrieved that the incident was not scrutinised, confronted referee Adam Leal and his assistants in the tunnel post-match. He admitted to using what he termed “industrial language,” expressing his frustration. Furthermore, Diamond also approached Television Match Official (TMO) David Rose later, after the game concluded.
- Tunnel Incident: Diamond admitted to using offensive language towards the match officials in the tunnel.
- TMO Interaction: Approximately 45 minutes after the match, Diamond reportedly told TMO David Rose that he “needed to retire.”
- Apologies: Subsequently, Diamond sent separate emails to both Rose and Leal, offering apologies for his remarks.
Disciplinary Hearing and Findings
During the disciplinary hearing, Diamond acknowledged his inappropriate conduct but explained it within the context of a highly pressured situation between two financially challenged Premiership clubs at the bottom of the league. He stated he “does not blame anyone but himself” for the outburst. The disciplinary panel concluded that both sets of remarks constituted verbal abuse directed at match officials. Notably, Paul Hull, the Rugby Football Union’s head of professional game officials, indicated that the Tua-Hearle incident should have been penalised in Newcastle’s favour.
Diamond’s actions come against a backdrop of increased scrutiny on the treatment of rugby match officials. The RFU has recently implemented stricter penalties across all levels of the sport, including the Premiership. This action followed a survey indicating that nearly half of match officials reported experiencing abuse.
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Diamond’s Response and Call for Accountability
In response to his suspension, Diamond addressed the matter at a press conference, advocating for greater accountability regarding refereeing decisions. While acknowledging his inappropriate comments and subsequent apology, Diamond expressed concern about the lack of scrutiny on officiating errors. He argued for a system where officials also face accountability, suggesting the current structure is overly protective of them when concerns are raised.
It is worth noting that Diamond received a character reference from Graham Crozier, a senior figure within the Northumberland Rugby Union Referees Society. Diamond, in his defense, highlighted his respect for community-level referees, drawing a distinction between them and paid professional officials.