No action expected over North’s biting allegation
SIX Nations organisers are anticipating that no action will be taken against any French player with regards to the alleged biting incident involving George North.
The Welsh winger looked furious during the closing stages of Wales’ 20-18 loss in Paris last weekend as he claimed he was bitten by an opponent.
However, after reviewing several angles of the incident, the citing commissioner on the day – John Montgomery (SRU) – found there was not enough evidence for him to point the finger at any individual.
Citing commissioners have a 48-hour window in which to make a complaint but an issue can still be raised after that period if the identity of a certain player is proving difficult to confirm. However, tournament organisers expect this to be the end of the matter.
“The independent citing commissioner present at the France v Wales match on 18 March 2017 has carefully reviewed all relevant evidence regarding all relevant incidents, including the allegation that Wales winger, George North, was bitten in the latter stages of the match,” a statement read.
“Based on the information available to him in the case of the alleged bite (including footage of the incident from several angles), the citing commissioner has not been able to conclude that any particular individual carried out an act of foul play, and accordingly he has not made a citing complaint ahead of the ordinary deadline for doing so.
“While the relevant rules provide that in certain circumstances, for example where the citing commissioner is uncertain as to the identity of the player(s) concerned, he is permitted to make a citing complaint after the 48-hour deadline, Six Nations Rugby anticipates that this will be the end of the matter in terms of the alleged bite.”
Speaking after the match, France head coach Guy Noves stated: “I’m sorry, I haven’t seen him so there’s nothing I can say. I don’t know. I can bite myself and then I have a bite mark.”
The alleged incident took place during a chaotic and, at times, farcical finale at the Stade de France that saw the game eventually end in the 100th minute.
However, there is no update on the controversial substitution of Uini Atonio that took place during the remarkable period of overtime.
Atonio officially left the field being replaced by starting tighthead Rabah Slimani, who is a superior scrummager - to undergo a head injury assessment after a French doctor ran onto the field, despite telling referee Wayne Barnes just a minute earlier that he felt okay.
Yesterday, Six Nations Rugby Limited said that they would be looking into the matter and there is nothing to add at this time on that incident.
It left a sour taste in Howley’s mouth and he claimed after the match that he saw a member of the French management team leave the technical area - which is not permitted - and speak to the doctor before he ran onto the field.
After the match, he said the incident ‘brought the integrity of the game into disrepute’.