Rugby World Cup
Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree guilty of breaching Rugby World Cup protocols
Tom Hamilton
October 9, 2015
England looking to go out on a high
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England coaches Graham Rowntree and Andy Farrell have been found guilty of breaking Rugby World Cup matchday protocols. The penalty sees them banned from entering the England changing room and/or tunnel in the 15 minute period prior to Saturday's game against Uruguay, during half-time and 10 minutes after the game.

Despite the sanction, the pair will be able to watch the match at the Manchester City Stadium from the coach's box alongside Stuart Lancaster and Mike Catt.

The penalty relates to Saturday's defeat by Australia, in which Farrell and Rowntree made contact with assistant referees Marius Mitrea and George Clancy at half-time in the tunnel. The World Rugby statement says the events were recorded on CCTV and "lasted a matter of seconds".

In the World Rugby judgement, it says Farrell made a comment with Mitrea in close proximity with the England coach saying in his statement the remarks were "not addressed to anyone in particular". Rowntree says in his statement he made a "made a throwaway comment in his [Mitrea's] direction in relation to a scrum decision".

Farrell and Rowntree admit they breached the matchday protocol with the judgement saying the coaches "should have known better". The judgement continues: "Their unguarded actions were disrespectful to the Match Officials concerned and wholly inconsistent with rugby values."

Alongside their respective restrictions for Saturday, the RFU and the two coaches have also been warned over their future conduct.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Tom Hamilton is the Associate Editor of ESPNscrum.

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