Exeter’s Jack Nowell to face disciplinary action for tweet criticising referee

Jack Nowell, the Exeter and England wing, is facing the prospect of disciplinary action from the Rugby Football Union for his outburst on Twitter during the Chiefs’ heavy defeat by Leicester on Sunday as the governing body clamps down on criticism of the game’s officials.

His Test colleague Ellis Genge, meanwhile, has been cited after the most recent round of Premiership action for a dangerous tackle and could miss the start of England’s World Cup preparations if found guilty at a hearing on Tuesday.

Nowell, who was absent from the Exeter side after picking up a knock in the Champions Cup quarter-final win over the Stormers, was one of several non-playing Chiefs to tweet his feelings after Olly Woodburn was sent off in the 42nd minute at Welford Road, having been shown 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 the referee, Karl 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.

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

After the match Rob Baxter, the Exeter director of rugby, conceded that he could understand how the officials reached the decision while his opposite number, Richard Wigglesworth, revealed that a specific directive designed to stop the offence in question had been recently issued.