Handbags at dawn for Saracens & RFU

Friday 21 May 2010
Published By: Ben Welch
Guinness Premiership > Saracens

The on-going row between Saracens and the RFU reached new heights yesterday when Saracens Director of Rugby Brendan Venter was accused by the RFU of the heinous crimes of eating a biscuit and throwing away some sweet wrappers at the RFU hearing last week.

Sarries Chief Exeuctive Edward Griffiths has hit back by criticising the RFU saying that "perhaps it's time for English rugby to be run like a modern professional sport and not a rural prep school" potentially earning himself his very own misconduct charge as a result.

RFU Chairman Martyn Thomas hit back at Griffiths on BBC Radio 5 Live saying "Nobody is bigger than the game of rugby and we're becoming increasingly concerned at the erosion of the core principles of the game."

The whole affair has taken on comedic proportions and comes as a result of the ludicrous 14 week touchline ban handed down to Venter following his behaviour at the game against Leicester Tigers two weeks ago.

Behaviour which allegedly included the very nasty crimes of standing up during the game and waving his arms about amongst others.

Saracens have appealed the original disciplinary decision and the appeal is due to be heard ahead of the Premiership final, against who else but Leicester, on Saturday 29th May.