Jack Nowell faces a potential suspension for a tweet he posted criticising a decision made by referee Karl Dickson during Exeter Chiefs’ Premiership clash with Leicester Tigers.
Nowell’s teammate, Olly Woodburn, was sent off shortly after half-time after Dickson issued a second yellow card to the wing.
The controversial incident occurred when Leicester finisher Chris Ashton looked to have scored his 100th Premiership try.
The incident
Stuart Hogg made the initial tackle on Ashton, but upon review, the TMO and referee deemed that Woodburn had dived on top of the Tigers’ wing, who had already been taken to the ground.
Dickson ruled that Ashton’s foot had been in touch, so a penalty try was awarded for Woodburn’s offence, with the Chiefs player subsequently sent off for a second yellow card.
In reaction, Nowell tweeted: “I’m actually in shock, like shock shocked. What the hell is happening? That’s one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen. EVER”
The tweet has since been deleted, but the RFU confirmed that he would face an independent disciplinary panel.
“Jack Nowell, Exeter Chiefs, has been charged with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Union and the game under RFU rule 5.12 for Tweeted criticism of the referee’s decision in the Leicester Tigers v Exeter Chiefs match on 16 April, to his 61,000 plus followers,” the statement read.
A bonus point for the Tigers but a red card for the Chiefs 🟥
Was that a fair decision?#ITVRugby | #GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/ycssYLehHG
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) April 16, 2023
Nowell’s teammates Luke Cowan-Dickie and Henry Slade added their opinions.
“rugby had lost the plot”, Cowan-Dickie tweeted, adding, “Yeah just let him score mate”.
While Slade commented, “I have no words”.
After the game, Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “I think the circumstances contrived against Olly (Woodburn) in respect of the sending off. The first yellow card for a deliberate knock-on was clearly correct, but for the second, it was the only thing he could have done to prevent a try.
“If the try had been awarded then nobody would have looked at it, but as it wasn’t, the TMO went through the process and adjudged that by diving on top of the player on the ground, he was forced into touch.
“There was, therefore, an act of foul play which then results in a penalty try and the issue of another yellow card.”
Exeter went on to lose the match 62-19 with Ashton scoring a hat-trick to become the first player to score 100 Premiership tries.
Previous suspension
Nowell would not be the first player to be suspended for remarks made on the social media platform.
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In November 2021, Anthony Watson copped a one-week suspension after criticising the decision by the referee Ian Tempest to send off his then-Bath teammate Mike Williams.
He tweeted: “Here we go again. Where is he supposed to wrap?! Obsurd [sic] decision.”
Nowell has been sidelined through injury recently and even if he recovers from injury in time, any period of suspension could rule him out for the Champions Cup semi-final against La Rochelle.
Nowell is set to leave Exeter at the end of this season, with La Rochelle his likely destination.
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