Just Stop Oil protest disrupts Premiership final

The English Premiership rugby final between Saracens and Sale at Twickenham was briefly held up on Saturday when Just Stop Oil protesters invaded the pitch and released orange powder. Three protesters ran onto the pitch 15 minutes into the match and, against a chorus of boos from the crowd, released powder in a similar fashion to their protest at the recent snooker world championship.

The two men were jeered by the crowd before fans cheered as they were escorted from the stadium by stewards. The game restarted after a delay of around five minutes.

A statement from Just Stop Oil said the men involved in the protest were Dr Patrick Hart, 37, a GP from Bristol and Sam Johnson, 40, a construction worker from Essex. "Two Just Stop Oil supporters have disrupted the Gallagher Premiership Rugby final," read the statement. "They are demanding a halt to any new licences for oil, gas and coal projects in the UK."

According to the statement, Hart said: "I am doing this because it's my duty as a doctor. The climate crisis is the greatest health crisis humanity has ever faced. "People are dying now and more will die every day unless we stop new oil, gas and coal. "In the same way the tobacco companies lied to us that tobacco was safe, the scrum of fossil fuel companies and corrupt politicians have been lying to us. They are keeping us addicted to fossil fuels, even though they know it's killing us. "I am not prepared to let them get away with mass murder. We are ordinary people. We are the doctors and nurses who care for you when you are sick. I call on everyone to come and join us in the streets and be on the right side of history."