Sale await action following Shillcock’s ‘homophobic slur’ allegation
Sale will learn today if any of their players are to face disciplinary action for alleged homophobic comments made in a second-half incident of this runaway victory which keeps them in contention for a top-six Premiership finish.
Television highlights broadcast yesterday by BT Sport revealed that Jamie Shillcock, the Worcester flyhalf, complained to referee Andrew Jackson after he had been tackled by Denny Solomona, the Sale wing, on the left touchline. The referee stopped the match immediately after the 55th-minute incident. He told Shillcock and acting Sale captain Jono Ross that he had not heard the remarks and that any allegation would be handled after the match.
Solomona, who scored one of Sale’s eight tries, and Shillcock were both substituted in the next few minutes as the home team completed a stylish victory.
Both Steve Diamond, Sale’s director of rugby, and Worcester counterpart Alan Solomons refused to elaborate on the verbal spat afterwards. Solomons said the aftermatch citing process would take care of the incident. Match-day commissioner Ashley Rowden has 24 hours to make a report.
Such incidents have been dealt with firmly by the rugby authorities. Joe Marler, the England prop, was banned for two matches and fined £20,000 for calling Wales’ Samson Lee “Gypsy Boy” in a Six Nations match in March 2016.
Those comments were caught loud and clear by television coverage while in this case it appears the evidence is much less clear and may depend on what exactly has been picked up by the TV cameras and the audio links used by officials.
The incident diluted talk of the rugby, which produced 11 tries and some excellent attacking play. Worcester paid for conceding turn overs in a loose display which also brought them three tries, two for Josh Adams at full-back. “Five of their tries came from such situations. They were lethal and deserved their victory,” Solomons said.
He remains worried about the relegation battle with London Irish despite being 10 points clear of their bottom-placed rivals.
While the Exiles collected a bonus point in losing to Gloucester, 29-33, Worcester failed to gain a fourth try in the second half which would have brought a similar reward. “It’s not over until it’s over,” Solomons insisted afterwards about the relegation tussle.
Diamond was equally blunt about Sale’s chances of further victories this season. “I don’t think we’re ready to compete against the top-four sides,” he said.