War of words between Tigers and Shoguns
May 9, 2002

The bitter war of words between Leicester chief executive Peter Wheeler and Bristol coach Dean Ryan with the Shoguns coach telling the Tigers supremo to "look after his own team".

Ryan hit back at Wheeler, who has fanned the flames for a potential powderkeg clash if - as seems likely - the clubs meet in this season's Zurich Premiership play-off quarter-finals on Saturday week.

Wheeler, a director of England Rugby Limited and Premier Rugby, spoke out following last Sunday's league game at the Memorial Stadium where Bristol prop Julian White and Leicester back-row forward Adam Balding were sent off for fighting.

He accused England international White of having "too short a fuse" and said that Bristol lock Garath Archer had "long been disregarded" by Clive Woodward for his indiscipline.

Bristol scrum-half Agustin Pichot also came under fire, while Wheeler suggested that Ryan might have had a longer international career "with more control".

Ryan is furious with the former Leicester and England hooker.

The Bristol coach was brought to book by Rugby Football Union bosses earlier this season for criticising the referee following a drawn league game against London Irish.

Ryan was fined £2,000 and given a 28-day touchline ban - and he believes that Wheeler is out of order.

"Peter Wheeler should look after his own team," said Ryan.

"If he has an issue with Bristol then he should raise it through the proper channels.

"I look forward to the RFU's response to the nature of his criticism, which was aired via the local press.

"I take exception to someone complaining about members of my playing staff in this way," he added.

"There are proper channels for this kind of thing, and I will be very interested to see whether the RFU take action."

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.