England players to be given new social media guidelines after Nowell charge
England players will be given fresh instructions over their use of social media during the World Cup in France this year but will not be banned from using it, the Guardian understands, with Jack Nowell the latest international to find himself in hot water.
As flagged by the Guardian, the Rugby Football Union has charged Nowell for his criticism of the referee Karl Dickson following Olly Woodburn’s red card in Exeter’s defeat by Leicester on Sunday. Nowell was one of several non-playing Exeter squad members to air his views on social media and the 30-year-old will now face a disciplinary hearing on Wednesday.
Nowell has been charged with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the union and the game after tweeting: “I’m actually in shock, like shock shocked. What the hell is happening? That’s one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen. EVER.”
The tweet has since been deleted but the RFU made mention of how it was posted to Nowell’s 61,000-plus followers. Exeter will nervously await the outcome with their Champions Cup semifinal against La Rochelle on the horizon because a suspension could rule Nowell out of the match.
Precedent suggests that Nowell will escape a suspension – his England teammate Anthony Watson faced a similar charge in November 2021 and was handed a one-week suspended ban – but the RFU is seeking to clamp down on criticism and abuse of match officials.
The disciplinary judgment for Watson noted the absence of an RFU social media policy and urged the union to introduce one at the time. It is understood that all England players, including those in the pathway, are given guidance whenever they come into camp.
Furthermore, it is understood that the England squad will be given renewed guidance “in line with Rugby World Cup regulations” before the tournament in France but players will not be banned from using social media during the tournament.
World Rugby’s regulations state that “all unions, associations, rugby bodies, clubs and persons shall not publish or cause to be published criticism of the manner in which a match official handled a match”.
In the past, Nathan Hughes and Billy Vunipola have also found themselves in hot water for their social media use – the former for criticising a disciplinary panel, the latter for apparently defending Israel Folau’s homophobic remarks. An RFU spokesperson said: “We regularly communicate with the game about rugby’s values, respect being one of those, and the importance of demonstrating this to our match officials.”
Nowell and other Exeter players watching their teammates against Leicester were evidently infuriated by Dickson’s decision to show Woodburn a second yellow card. Woodburn’s first yellow was shown for a deliberate knock-on in the first half and he was given his marching orders by Dickson for diving on Chris Ashton on the floor early in the second.
The Leicester wing was attempting to score in the right-hand corner as he was tackled by Stuart Hogg, with Woodburn diving at Ashton in an effort to force him into touch. Ashton’s foot grazed the touchline before he could score the try so Dickson ruled that a penalty try should be awarded with Woodburn shown another yellow card.
Luke Cowan-Dickie, the England and Exeter hooker, added his opinion that “rugby had lost the plot” while the centre Henry Slade announced “I have no words”, but, in directly criticising the referee’s decision, Nowell has been charged.