Headache for Exeter as RFU charge Jack Nowell for tweeting criticism

England international Jack Nowell potentially faces missing the upcoming Heineken Champions Cup semi-final in France versus La Rochelle after the RFU charged him with conduct allegedly prejudicial to the interests of rugby.

Nowell didn’t play in last Sunday’s 62-19 defeat for Exeter in the Gallagher Premiership at Leicester, a match that featured the much-debated sending-off for Chiefs winger Olly Woodburn just minutes into the second half.

Referee Karl Dickson adjudged Woodburn to have committed a yellow card offence when he slid into Chris Ashton after the Leicester player dived for the try line and was tackled by Stuart Hogg.

The official decided that Woodburn’s actions merited a yellow card and the awarding of a penalty try to Leicester. It also meant that Woodburn was sent off as it was his second yellow card of the match.

Nowell and two Exeter teammates who were also not involved in the game – fellow England internationals Luke Cowan-Dickie and Henry Slade – vented their feelings.

Cowan-Dickie tweeted that “rugby had lost the plot”, while Slade said “I have no words”, but Nowell criticised Dickson in a since-deleted tweet: “I’m actually in shock, like shock shocked. What the hell is happening? That’s one of the worst decisions I’ve ever seen. EVER”.

Nowell also retweeted a comment by Rob Kitson, the long-serving Guardian rugby journalist, who wrote: “That Woodburn decision perfectly sums up the disciplinary quicksand into which rugby has sunk. Punishment does not remotely fit the 'crime', imho.”

The tweet didn't go down well with the authorities and Nowell now has a disciplinary case to answer.

An RFU statement read: “Jack Nowell, Exeter Chiefs, has been charged with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the union and the game under RFU rule 5.12 for tweeted criticism of the referee's decision in the Leicester Tigers vs Exeter Chiefs match on April 16 to his 61,000-plus followers.

“The case will be heard tomorrow evening [Wednesday] by an independent disciplinary panel chaired by Matthew O’Grady sitting with Martyn Wood and Guy Lovgreen.”

Exeter take on La Rochelle in Bordeaux on April 30 following this Saturday's home game in the league versus Bristol.