Statement: Rugby player gets 10-week ban for racially abusing opponent

The charge, brought under RFU Rule 5.12 for “Conduct Prejudicial To The Interests Of The Union And The Game,” related to an incident in a match between Rugeley RUFC and Burton RFC on 25 October 2025.

The panel ruled that Tranter verbally abused an opposition player by calling him a “black b***ard”. Tranter denied the allegation, insisting he had said “thick bastard” instead.

In its written judgment, the panel stated: “The Panel were satisfied, on the balance of probabilities, that he used the words ‘black bastard’ when referring to RM. As such, the Charge was proven.”

Three Burton RFC players gave evidence that they heard the racist term. The referee also recalled being told during the match that the word “black” had been used. While the panel accepted there were some inconsistencies in witness accounts, it concluded these did not undermine the central allegation.

The panel said the correct starting point for sanction was 18 weeks, explaining: “As such, the Panel considered that an 18 week sanction was appropriate.” Because the abuse was based on a protected characteristic and directed at an individual, it merited a top-end entry point.

However, the 18 weeks was structured rather than imposed as a straight suspension. Tranter had already been suspended by his club pending the hearing and missed two matches. As a result, the immediate match-day suspension was “reduced from 12 weeks… [as] BT was suspended from playing… and has missed 2 fixtures,” leaving a 10-week match-day ban from 23 January to 3 April 2026.

In addition, he is barred from non-match-day coaching for four weeks, and a further six-week match-day ban is suspended until the end of the 2027/28 season. He must also pay £125 in costs and has 14 days to appeal.