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Opening minute red card leaves coach questioning current laws

BY davidharper  ·  Monday Jan 10, 2022

Rory Sutherland’s return to rugby lasted all of six minutes. The Worcester forward found himself on the wrong end of the ref’s whistle for a head clash early on in his side’s 22-19 loss to Bath. The decision didn’t sit well with head coach Jonathan Thomas. 

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Sutherland was returning after having spent six weeks out injured. The Scotland international was carded by referee Craig Maxwell-Keys for a head clash with Will Stuart.

Thomas said: “By the letter of the law it’s a red card and you can’t argue with it, but I think there is an issue with the law… Something is wrong with the game if we are going to have a sending-off for that.

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“I am bitterly disappointed to go down to 14 players and lose. I thought we were the better team with 14, and we had to be tactically smart.

“The players showed huge, huge character and I am gutted for them because we created opportunities. It was an unbelievable effort.”

Sutherland will now face a disciplinary hearing, meaning his participation in Scotland’s opening Six Nations match could be in doubt.

Scotland host England on February 5.

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