Denny Solomona has been charged by the Rugby Football Union after allegedly aiming homophobic abuse at a Worcester player during an incident in Sale’s victory over the Warriors last weekend.
Worcester’s fly-half, Jamie Shillcock, can be heard making a complaint of homophobic abuse by a Sale player, soon after a scuffle with Solomona in the 56th minute of the match, and the England wing will now face a disciplinary hearing next Thursday. Solomona faces a charge of “conduct prejudicial to the interests of the union or the game”, following what the RFU has described as “alleged verbal abuse”.
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Shillcock made the allegation to the referee, Andrew Jackson, and while he did not appear to identify the opponent in question, he explained: “He said it three times. He made a homophobic slur twice.” Jackson replied to Shillcock and the acting Sale captain, Jono Ross, that he did not hear any remarks but that any allegation would be dealt with after the match.
Any ban may jeopardise Solomona’s hopes of being part of England’s tour of South Africa in June – not least after he was warned over his future conduct by Eddie Jones having been sent home in disgrace from a pre-season training camp following a late-night drinking session with Manu Tuilagi.
Verbal abuse of an opponent about their religion, colour, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin carries a ban of between six and 18 weeks. The nature of the charge, however, which falls under the RFU rule 5.12, means the disciplinary panel may use punitive measures outside those sanctions. “In the weekend’s Premiership match between Sale Sharks and Worcester Warriors, Solomona allegedly verbally abused a Worcester Warriors player,” read an RFU statement. “The incident occurred in the second half of the match.”
In January the Toulon and France centre Mathieu Bastareaud was banned for three weeks – reduced from six in mitigation – for verbally abusing Benetton’s Sebastian Negri in a Champions Cup match. Bastareaud was picked up by television footage calling his opponent a “fucking faggot”.
The Wasps flanker Sam Jones has confirmed his retirement at the age of 26 following a freak injury suffered when practising judo at an England camp in October 2016. Jones was wrestling with Maro Itoje when he suffered an ankle dislocation, a fracture of the fibula, rupture of the medial ligament and significant damage to ankle cartilage.
Jones has undergone a series of operations since but on Thursday announced his decision on medical advice. It is understood that the RFU’s insurance policy – in conjunction with the Rugby Players’ Association and the Premiership – covers career-ending injuries such as these. An RFU statement read: “We are very saddened to hear of Sam’s retirement from the game and we wish him all the very best for the future.”
Jones had yet to win a cap for England but had started last season in superb form and was earmarked as a future international having been part of the same age-group side as Joe Launchbury and Elliot Daly.
The Wasps director of rugby, Dai Young, said: “It’s awful news. Sam’s situation has really hit me hard. When I came into the club we had a lot of retirements and injuries. We needed someone to step up and lead from the front and Sam Jones was that man. He was only a young man but was someone I could rely on – he’s been a rock for me throughout my tenure at Wasps.
Jones added: “The injury was a complicated one and my rehab wasn’t progressing the way we wanted, with multiple setbacks along the way. I’ve therefore reluctantly had to listen to medical advice and retire from rugby. The decision was made for me, which was tough to hear. But I understand it is in my best interests.”