Ireland’s captain Johnny Sexton has received a three-match suspension, forcing him to sit out his country’s three World Cup warm-up matches.
Sexton, aged 38, will be ineligible to participate in the fixtures against Italy, England, and Samoa. However, he will be able to join Ireland for their World Cup opener against Romania on September 9th.
This penalty was imposed on Sexton after he confessed to misconduct directed at match officials subsequent to Leinster’s defeat to La Rochelle in the Heineken Champions Cup final held in May.
During the hearing, Sexton’s lawyer argued the Jack Nowell’s tweet (“worst refereeing decision I have ever seen”) should be considered precedent for not handing out a ban.
However, this controversial play backfired. The panel “disagree with core aspects” of the decision to fine Nowell and send him on a ref course.
The disciplinary committee of European Professional Club Rugby as a result deemed Sexton’s conduct “confrontational and aggressive towards and disrespectful of the match officials.”
Furthermore, Leinster has been given a suspended fine of £7,500. Both the club and Sexton possess the right to appeal these decisions, but they must do so by Wednesday at 16:00 BST.
Sexton, who plans to retire after the World Cup in France, was unable to participate in the final on May 20th due to injury but entered the field after the match concluded.
Leinster suffered a 27-26 loss in the Dublin final, and Sexton engaged in a verbal exchange with South African referee Jaco Peyper and other match officials following the game.
On Thursday, he attended an independent disciplinary panel led by Christopher Quinlan KC via video conference call.
Ireland’s initial World Cup warm-up encounter is scheduled against Italy on August 5th, followed by matches against England and Samoa on August 19th and 26th respectively.
Their first World Cup match will take place on September 9th against Romania in Bordeaux.
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Johnny Sexton has been labelled the ‘biggest cheat’ in rugby today
Fans have been ranking who they consider the dirtiest players in the game today. In some cases it seems unpopularity saw them picked while other stars have been named and shamed for their thuggish actions on the field.
#5. Owen Farrell (England)
Could it be anybody else to start? Farrell fits the label “our guy” better than most, meaning you love to hate him unless he’s in your squad. Then you’d go to the end’s of the earth to defend him.
The England captain, also known as ‘Shoulder boy’ for his high tackling, does himself no favours with his poor tackling technique.
Although he’s currently serving a two-match ban, the fact he often seems to get away with it doesn’t help either.
Owen Farrell facts:
The Saracens star went to school with England teammate George Ford
His education began in rugby league – he joined Wigan St Patricks at the age of eight
He became the youngest ever player to appear in English professional rugby, making his debut aged 17 and 11 days. This record was later beaten by schoolmate Ford
It’s well known that Owen is the son of Ireland head coach Andy Farrell. However, it’s less commonly know that his uncle Sean O’Loughlin is also a rugby league legend, winning 34 caps for Great Britain between 1993 and 2009
He was not at first registered as a Farrell, but took mum Colleen’s family name of O’Loughlin. The couple married in 1995, changing Owen’s surname to Farrell the following year.
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