Venter escapes matchday ban after referee apology
SARACENS director of rugby Brendan Venter last night escaped a match-day coaching ban after making a public apology to Premiership referee David Rose for his comments after the recent match with Leicester.
Venter was found guilty of misconduct by a Rugby Football Union disciplinary panel after questioning the integrity of Rose following his side’s 22-15 defeat by the Tigers on January 2.
He was handed a four-week match-day coaching ban, suspended until December 31, while also being order to apologise to Rose and pay £250 costs.
City.A.M. columnist Venter said: “I apologise unreservedly for making a statement which caused offence to David Rose. I firmly believe that I did not question, or intend to question, David’s integrity and any criticism implied was not meant.
“When I said I believed he had been influenced at half-time, I did not inted that to mean that he was improperly influenced. I hope that we can put this matter behind us and I look forward to welcoming David Rose back to Vicarage Road in the near future.”