Ugo Monye swears live on air as TNT Sports goes live without pundits knowing

Rugby News
Tuesday, 21 May 2024 at 13:06
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Rugby presenter and former England international Ugo Monye inadvertently swore on live television, unaware that the TNT Sport cameras were rolling live for several minutes on Super Saturday.
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The 41-year-old was leading the coverage for the Harlequins v Bristol Bears match at Twickenham Stoop on the final day of the Gallagher Premiership season on Super Saturday.
With TNT broadcasting all five games at once, technical glitches were probably inevitable. One awkward moment ensued when Monye engaged in a personal conversation with Ellis Genge, completely oblivious to the live broadcast.
In another clip, Monye caught a ball, kicked it, and exclaimed, "S**t!" before quickly correcting himself with, "Shoot!"
It became apparent that no one at TNT Sport realised the broadcast was live as the coverage continued for several minutes, leaving viewers confused.
England legend Lawrence Dallaglio was also overheard discussing the conflict of interest between being a player and a pundit, and was heard laughing with former England prop and fellow pundit David Flatman.

Man in court:

Meanwhile, a man is scheduled to appear in court accused of racially abusing Monye.
Angus Beukes, 31, has been summoned to appear at Exeter Magistrates' Court on July 24, according to Devon and Cornwall Police.
He faces charges of causing racially aggravated harassment, alarm, or distress, officers said.
The charge stems from an alleged incident at Exeter Chiefs’ Sandy Park stadium following their victory against Gloucester in November 2023.
Police stated that Mr. Beukes is facing a charge of "racially/religiously aggravated harassment/alarm/distress by words/writing."
Officers added: "We must now respect the court process and would ask that members of the public do not risk prejudicing these proceedings by speculating on social media.”
At the time, Exeter Chiefs noted that the incident had been captured on CCTV and reported to the police.

What England's 2003 Rugby World Cup heroes look like now, some are very different

Sir Clive Woodward's England lifted the William Webb Ellis trophy for the first - and so far only - time in 2003, after a Jonny Wilkinson drop goal in extra time.
Woodward's side are still the only northern hemisphere side to win the World Cup, with the other nine tournaments won by South Africa (four), New Zealand (three) and Australia (two).
In a video posted by England Rugby's Instagram account, Wilkinson - who scored the all important drop goal 28 seconds from time - said: 'It's great being back with all the guys from the squad 20 years on.
'It's great to be able to see everyone, and to get a feel of what everyone's been up to, but also to I guess get a feel for why we were able to do what we did 20 years ago, because it still lives on in everyone.'
Take a look at how some of the key players look now:

Phil Vickery

A former Gloucester and London Wasps prop, Phil Vickery called time on his career at the end of the 2010 Premiership season. The two-time British & Irish Lion was a revered opponent across the world, and has since started a successful clothing brand 'Raging Bull', with his on-field nickname. Vickery was forced into retirement due to a series of neck injuries, and in 2012 he joined Worcester Warriors as their Scrum Coach.
Vickery has also tried his hand at sports broadcasting, as he was apart of the commentary team for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. His on-screen appearances have also been witnessed across a variety of TV shows, including 'Celebrity MasterChef', which he won in 2011. An eternal fan favourite at Kingsholm Stadium, Vickery was appointed the title of Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire in 2015.
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Jonny Wilkinson

Renowned for his iconic drop-goal that secured victory against Australia in the 2003 final, Wilkinson transitioned into a coaching role with Toulon, focusing on kicking and skills development following his retirement. He also now works as a pundit for ITV Sport during Rugby World Cup's and the Six Nations.

Will Greenwood

Greenwood continued to shine on the international stage following the 2003 glory, and went on to represent the British & Irish Lions for their 2005 tour to New Zealand. He ended his career at Harlequins in 2006, and soon gave his experienced views through analysis and punditry. Greenwood co-hosted the 'School of Hard Knocks' TV series with former Wales international Scott Quinnell, and was an on-screen analyst for ITV as England reached the final of the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Will has also explored opportunities away from rugby, and is the current Chief Customer Officer for data and software company Afiniti's London office. Greenwood's family was struck with tragedy, after his son Freddie died just 45 minutes after being born. The former England centre underwent an inspirational walk to the North Pole in memory of his son, and helped to raise over £750,000 for Borne's research. Greenwood is a patron of Borne, who are a medical research charity that work with cases of premature birth. He is also a patron of Child Bereavement UK, which is a charity that support parents who have lost a child.

Mike Tindall

Tindall, who earned an impressive 75 caps for England, held the distinction of being the final player from the 2003 squad to retire when he bid farewell to his playing career in 2014. Adding a touch of royalty to his life, he tied the knot with Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne, in 2011.
Since then, he's frequently spotted alongside royalty at various sporting events and public engagements, embodying a blend of athletic prowess and regal connections. He also presents The Good, The Bad, And The Rugby podcast.
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Ben Kay

Kay amassed 62 caps for England throughout his eight-year international career, retiring in the summer of 2010. Since then, he has contributed as an analyst for various prominent broadcasters and held a role as a non-executive director at Leicester Tigers from 2014 to 2021.

Neil Back

The openside flanker for England in 2003 transitioned to coaching roles post-retirement, notably at Leeds Carnegie and Rugby Lions. His tenure culminated in leading an undefeated 2011/12 season with Rugby Lions in the fifth tier, securing both a league title and cup victory. His last full-time coaching position was at Edinburgh, concluding in 2013.

Lawrence Dallaglio

Dallaglio has followed in the footsteps of Wilkinson and Dawson, becoming a well-known rugby pundit. He provided coverage for the Rugby World Cup on ITV in 2011.
Additionally, he is renowned for his philanthropic efforts, having founded the Lawrence Dallaglio Foundation. This organisation aims to empower young people through sport and supports teenage cancer trusts by raising funds.

Ben Cohen

Cohen ended his rugby career with Sale Sharks, having previously also represented Northampton Saints and French club Brive. An inspirational activist, the former winger founded The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation in 2011, which works on raising awareness regarding the impacts of bullying and implements “real-world work to stop it”. Cohen is an leading activist for LGBTQ+ rights, and in 2013 was inducted into the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame.
Due to having a hearing issue called tinnitus, Cohen is clinically deaf. He lacks approxmiatly 30% of his hearing in both ears, and he is a campaigner for increased accessibility within rugby for hard of hearing people. Cohen met his partner Kristina Rihanoff on TV show ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, and the pair have since had a daughter together. Cohen has appeared on numerous reality TV shows, including The Jump, The Celebrity Chase and has worked with charity Sports Relief.

Steve Thompson

Since retiring from playing, two of England's victorious 2003 front-rowers have embarked on distinct paths. Hooker Thompson opted for a lifestyle change, relocating to Dubai. At 45 years old, he assumed ambassadorial roles for the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation and was appointed as a sports ambassador for Transguard, a security and facilities management services company.
However, Thompson's journey took a poignant turn when he was diagnosed with early-onset dementia in December 2020. In a significant gesture, on September 23, 2021, he publicly expressed his desire to donate his brain for research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
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