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'Regardless of what the footage looks like I know that I have never spat on a player'
By Peter Thompson
Harlequins have given Dave Ward a one-match ban for stamping but cleared him of spitting during Saturday's Premiership win over Wasps.
Ward was shown a yellow card after treading on Thomas Young's ankle in his side's 20-13 victory at Twickenham.
The hooker will miss Quins' trip to Newcastle Falcons next weekend as he waits to discover if he will be cited for either incident, as well as a neck roll on Young.
In a statement, Quins announced they had carried out a review and assessed Ward has "no case to answer" over allegations that he spat at an opponent.
Harlequins head of rugby Paul Gustard said: "We have reviewed this episode as a club and I have spoken with Dave.
"We do not coach, condone or accept foul play and on behalf of the team and the club, I apologise to Thomas, Dai [Young, director of rugby at Wasps] and Wasps for this incident. It was an unnecessary and regrettable incident in what was a tightly contested match at Twickenham."
Ward said in the statement: "I apologise unreservedly to Thomas Young, Wasps and everyone at Harlequins for my yellow card yesterday.
"I would also like to make clear that I did not spit on another player during the match yesterday. Regardless of what the television footage looks like I know that I have never spat on a player in all my career and will never do so."
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Etzebeth went on to say: “I would never dream of saying that systems stay in place following a change in captain. To say that would be deeply, deeply, disrespectful of Siya. A while back an Irish person told me they would be fine without Sexton, so I’m just responding to that.”
Go to commentsClose games are what we want to see…. What a match it was…. I am sure that everyone was drained by the end of it. The reality of it all there has to be a winner and a loser. The fact that we still talking about it is almost 6 months to the day Rugby is the winner.. Asante sana… Here is to 2027 and what it will bring out.
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