Newcastle boss Dave Walder was puzzled as to why Bath were able to have 16 players on the pitch during the final minutes of the Falcons' 24-16 defeat at the Recreation Ground.
Walder said: ”There were 16 bath players on the pitch for 34 seconds and the reality as I said to Paul Hull it had no bearing on us winning the game – there was a 1min 14 seconds left and we were eight points down.
"I just think that at professional level with a team of five – and I include the television match official – I don’t think it is acceptable you have 16 men on the pitch for any reason.
“The explanation I got back was that the assistant referees were aware of the situation and a Bath player was meant to be leaving on the other side of the pitch and then when the ball came towards him he didn’t.
"The officials acted immediately and the ball was blown dead and there was 34 seconds and while they held their hands up and said it was a mistake I don’t believe it should happen at professional level.
“It just added to my frustrations around the game and the communications between referee, assistant referees and TMO. The referee has ultimate control around the playing environment and the buck stops with him.
"The team managers give the fourth official a card about who is coming on and I would expect the official to watch who is coming off and going on. For some reason it was missed.”
30 rugby stars out of contract in 2023: Marler, Jones, Sexton, Tuilagi
We’re now into 2023 and so dozens of big-namerugby are free to negotiate with potential suitors as their contracts are set to expire in the summer.
Over the past few years, we have seen a notable rise in players willingly running down their contracts in order to strike the best deal possible at their new club.
We’ve scoured the home nations and picked out 40 of the biggest names who are out of contract at the end of the season.
Wales:
Rhys Priestland (Cardiff Rugby)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys)
George North (Ospreys)
Rhys Webb (Ospreys)
Ross Moriarty (Dragons)
Sam Davies (Dragons)
Rhys Patchell (Scarlets)
Jonathan Davies (Scarlets)
Dan Lydiate (Ospreys)
Jack Morgan (Ospreys)
England:
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Joe Marler of England during the summer international match between Wales and England at Principality Stadium on Saturday 17 Aug 2019 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
Harry Thacker (Bristol Bears)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Marland Yarde (Bayonne)
Ben Loader (London Irish)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath)
Scotland:
Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs)
Try Celebrations for Stuart Hogg of Exeter Chiefs during the European Rugby Champions Cup Match between Exeter Chiefs and Montpellier at Sandy Park on 11 December 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
Gregor Townsend (Scotland - coach)
Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors)
Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors)
Hamish Watson (Edinburgh)
Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs)
Ireland:
Johnny Sexton (Leinster)
Keith Earls (Munster)
Hugo Keenan (Leinster)
