STATEMENT: England international will be in court next week after clash with supporter
09/12/2024 01:49 PM
Sale Sharks have confirmed that Jonny Hill is set to meet with police on Monday, aiming to resolve a confrontation with a Bath supporter that took place at The Rec in June. Following this, Hill will face an RFU disciplinary hearing before being cleared to play again for the Manchester-based club.
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The incident occurred on June 1, shortly after Bath’s 31-23 victory over Sale in the Gallagher Premiership semi-final. Hill, who was sitting with Sale's coaching staff during the match, became involved in an altercation with a fan who was celebrating in the direction of the Sharks' bench after full-time. Despite being sidelined due to a long-term injury, Hill was seen putting the supporter in a headlock, allegedly causing injury and damage to the fan’s glasses.
Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson explained: "It's currently being drawn under it, yeah.
"He's going back in. He is seeing the police on Monday and that will be finalised then, and it has been dropped from an ABH (actual bodily harm) to something of a lesser act. So, I think that's about as much as I can say because he is currently not finished his hearing which is on Monday.
"He is up and about… but he's like a week or two off (playing at the earliest). We have still got to wait to see what happens with the police and then the RFU disciplinary after that, but if it was down to us it would be either next week or the week after for selection."
"Of course we have (club taken action against Hill). We pulled him in and we looked at it; we have hired barristers, not to look after him but to make sure that everything is done properly.
"That has all been on the club that because as soon that comes out and it comes out in the press and everything else, he is not getting attacked so to speak but people want to know the answers and we also want to give him as much support as possible from our side knowing how he was verbally abused as well.
"So, I'm not saying I can condone acts of violence. You can't. You can't condone acts of violence, particularly when we are supposed to be setting an example in the sporting arena. But you just want a fair cop at it, don't you?"
"Early again" – England get another easy group in 2027 Rugby World Cup draw
During the draw, the 24 participating teams will be divided into six pools, each consisting of four teams. Notably, this draw will transpire before the regional qualifiers have concluded, resulting in a dual-world approach.
On one side, we have the twelve automatic qualifiers from the 2023 Rugby World Cup, confirmed by their names. On the other side, the regional qualifiers will be represented as Africa 1, Europe 1, Europe 2, and so forth.
Rugby World Cup 2027 is set to be hosted in Australia, marking the eleventh edition of the Men’s Rugby World Cup and the third time it will take place in Australia. The country previously co-hosted the inaugural Rugby World Cup with New Zealand in 1987 and served as the sole host in 2003.
With the current World Rankings in mind, let’s delve into how the 2027 Rugby World Cup will shape up via Rugby Centre.
2027 Rugby World Cup draw (Current rankings)
POOL A
- South Africa
- Australia
- Portugal
- Spain
POOL B
- France
- Fiji
- Tonga
- Chile
CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO
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