Carl Fearns suggests Bok No.8 Wiese ended teammate's career

Newcastle forward Carl Fearns has suggested on social media that hard-hitting Springboks No.8 Jasper Wiese ended a teammate's career in 2021.

Fearns raised eyebrows of the festive season with a heavily loaded tweet aimed at Wiese, after the Springbok was banned for two games for accruing three yellow cards across the season.

Wiese received his third yellow card of the 2021/2022 Premiership season during his team’s 28-26 away win at Ashton Gate on Boxing Day against Bristol Bears. He misses today's clash with Newcastle and Wasps next weekend.

Fearns took to social media to share his feelings about Springbok’s ban.

“That’s a shame, I fancied getting cleaned out with an elbow from the side,” Fearns tweeted.

That wasn't the end of it however, with the uncompromising Falcons back row fielding plenty of criticism on Twitter for taking a pop at the South African, some accusing him of lacking respect. “Respect? I’m about player welfare and keeping kids wanting to play our sport that’s opened doors for me that never would have been open,” Fearns wrote.

One response was particularly intriguing, with Fearns implying that Wiese had ended the career of Scottish international Jon Welsh.

Welsh last played for Newcastle against Leicester Tigers in March 2021. It would be his last game of professional rugby, after he was injured in the bad-tempered affair at Welford Road. Indeed, prior to the game, Welsh and England and Leicester Tigers prop Ellis Genge faced off on the sidelines and had to be separated before coming to blows.

During the game, Welsh dislocated his shoulder after a questionable ruck entry by Wiese, an act that went unpunished at the time, leaving Newcastle Director of Rugby Dean Richards irate. The South African came in from the side at a ruck – according to Newcastle – to make the collision which resulted in Welsh requiring an operation.

(Photo by PA)

The 35-year-old prop was released by Newcastle at the end of the season. Fearns suggests that an incident with Wiese that day effectively ended the Scot's career.

"Do you think it’s classy that John welsh never played again," wrote Ferns.

It can't be denied that Wiese, who has now earned a total of eight caps in a break-out year for South Africa, is starting to earn a reputation for questionable incidents. In the meantime, fans will have to wait for an eventual showdown between the pair.