Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Toby Knight banned despite Saracens claiming red was a yellow card

Saracens' Toby Knight tackles Bath's Ollie Lawrence, leading to a red card in last weekend's Gallagher Premiership match (Photo by Bob Bradford/CameraSport via Getty Images)

Saracens forward Toby Knight has been hit with a three-game ban following last weekend’s sending-off at Bath. The soon-to-be 22-year-old was given his marching orders by referee Karl Dickson just minutes into the London club’s Gallagher Premiership match at The Rec.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mark McCall’s side were trailing 0-7 when the openside was punished for his shoulder to the head of Ollie Lawrence and they struggled a man short, going on lose by a record 10-68 scoreline.

Knight will now miss this Saturday’s home league match versus Bristol and next weekend’s trip to Ireland to face Munster in the Investec Champions Cup. However, he can become available for the final match of his ban – the January 19 European game at home to Castres – if he successfully completes tackle school.

Video Spacer

Nick Mallett explains why he once turned down an offer to coach England | RPTV

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 1:51
Loaded: 9.01%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 1:51
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
    • en (Main), selected
    Video Spacer

    Nick Mallett explains why he once turned down an offer to coach England | RPTV

    Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett on turning down the England coaching job, before Eddie Jones got it. Watch the full episode on RugbyPass TV

    Watch now

    A statement read: “The case of Saracens’ Toby Knight was heard by an independent panel chaired by Charles Cuthbert, sitting with Mitch Read and Veryan Boscawen.

    “Knight was shown a red card for a high tackle, contrary to World Rugby law 9.13, during a game against Bath on December 28. The charge was upheld and Knight received a three-match ban which will be reduced to two if he successfully completes the World Rugby coaching intervention programme.”

    Fixture
    Gallagher Premiership
    Saracens
    35 - 26
    Full-time
    Bristol
    All Stats and Data

    Knight accepted at the hearing that he had committed foul play but in the 10-page verdict published by the RFU, Warrick Lang, the head of culture and rugby manager at Saracens, claimed: “We have no issue with the official’s first two steps of the head contact process. Head contact had occurred, we accept there was foul play but that a yellow card would have been sufficient for this instance.

    “We contest that the third step and the fourth step in the HCP were in error, but we wish to put on record that we don’t criticise the officials for how they dealt with this as we have been afforded the time to closely analyse the footage with no time pressure.”

    • Click here to read the full 10-page written verdict from the Toby Knight hearing

    Related

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Top 100

    Rugby’s best of the best, ranked by experts. Check out our list of the Top 100 Men's Rugby Players and let us know what you think! 



    ADVERTISEMENT

    Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

    Argentina v France | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Men's Match Highlights

    New Zealand v Australia | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Women's Match Highlights

    Tokyo Sungoliath vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

    Reds vs Force | Super Rugby W 2025 | Full Match Replay

    The Rise of Kenya | The Report

    New Zealand in Hong Kong | Brady Rush | Sevens Wonders | Episode 4

    The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

    Trending on RugbyPass

    Comments

    0 Comments
    Be the first to comment...

    Join free and tell us what you really think!

    Sign up for free
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Latest Features

    Comments on RugbyPass

    TRENDING
    TRENDING Duhan van der Merwe's Lions tour thrown into doubt Edinburgh face anxious wait over Duhan van der Merwe
    Search