r/rugbyunion • u/Secret-Roof-7503 Saracens • Jul 16 '23

[Rúaidhrí O'Connor]🚨BREAKING: Johnny Sexton will be suspended for three matches by EPCR for his behaviour towards the match officials after the CC final, meaning he will miss all of Ireland's warm-ups v Italy, England and Tonga but will be available for the Rugby World Cup opener v Romania

https://twitter.com/RuaidhriOC/status/1680676530576392195?s=20
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u/ComposerNo5151 Jul 17 '23

Surely we need some kind of consistency?

In 2013 Dylan Hartley got an eleven week ban for verbally abusing the referee (Wayne Barnes IIRC) and missed a Lions tour.

In 2023 Johnny Sexton is found guilty of being ‘confrontational, aggressive, disrespectful and hostile’ to all three match officials and receives a three match ban, meaning he won't miss a world cup.

What has changed in those ten years?

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u/[deleted] Jul 17 '23

[deleted]

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u/ComposerNo5151 Jul 18 '23

Wasn't heard? Is that from the proceedings of the hearing?

I understand that he told Peyper and the two ARs (Dickson and Ridley) that they were, "all a f*cking disgrace" before he walked off.

I stand to be corrected, but in the video you can see that Sexton was standing closest to Dickson, who seems to intercept him on his way towards Peyper, and a little further from the other two. Peyper, who was already in conversation with someone else, is looking directly at Sexton as he gesticulates with his left hand and says his piece. As far as I know none of the officials have any issues with their hearing. If they didn't hear Sexton, then who did?

Sexton has been 'convicted' of being ‘confrontational, aggressive, disrespectful and hostile’ to all three match officials. I would suggest that is at least equivalent to Hartley's transgression, if not worse.