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Heated exchange as referee has to tell coach 'Don't you touch me'
By Grant Constable
Dragons beat Ospreys 20-5 in United Rugby Championship's round 5 Welsh derby at Rodney Parade, recording their first home win in more than a year.
Hooker Bradley Roberts and wing Rio Dyer scored tries as the Dragons triumphed following Ospreys wing Mat Protheroe being sent off for a dangerous challenge after just 27 minutes.
The nasty looking incident, which can be seen in the highlights below, led to a fairly bizarre altercation between referee Ben Whitehouse and Dragons head of performance, Dan Baugh.
Chasing a high ball, Protheroe went in too upright which led to a nasty head-on-head clash with Dragons fly-half Will Reed.
Referee Whitehouse had little option but to show a straight red card, but not before former Canada international Baugh appeared to say something that Whitehouse felt was directed at him.
“Dan, Dan, Dan, Dan," said Whitehouse.
"Come here. You ever shout at me... [interupted by Baugh] No, listen to me very clearly. You ever talk to me and shout at me like that again and you will be in the stand."
Baugh protested, "I'm talking to my players. Ben, I can talk to my players," then put his hand on Whitehouse as he tried to walk away.
"Don't you touch me," said the upset referee.
"This man stays off the field from now on," Whitehouse then said to the sideline.
"He does not come on the field again, Dan Baugh. Thank you.
“Can you just make sure that the team manager does not let that man back on the field, thank you,” he added. “We will speak about it after the game."
It's unclear at this stage if there will be any official repercussions for Baugh, but laying hands on the referee is certainly not something that can be allowed at any level of the game. A URC charge could follow, while Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan said post match:
"I was up in the gantry trying to figure things out and all I heard was that Dan couldn’t come back onto the field. I will look into it and try to speak to Ben."
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Latest Comments
I think the best 15 we have is DMac. Jordan at 14.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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