Dragons assistant coach could face charge after heated exchange with ref

NEWS: Dragons recorded their first home win in more than a year, beating Ospreys 20-5 in United Rugby Championship’s Round Five match at Rodney Parade.

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 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 flyhalf 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 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.”

By Grant Constable, Rugbypass