Exeter wing faces possible suspension after tweet

NEWS: Exeter and England wing Jack Nowell could miss the upcoming Champions Cup semi-final against La Rochelle should he be found guilty of misconduct and suspended by the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

Nowell was charged with misconduct by the RFU on Tuesday after criticising a referee on Twitter. Suspension could see him miss the semi-final on 30 April.

The RFU, the English game’s governing body, said Nowell had been charged with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Union and the game and his case would be heard on Wednesday.

Nowell, who is currently out of action through injury, took to social media after Exeter team-mate Olly Woodburn received a second yellow card and was sent off during the Chiefs’ 62-19 Premiership hammering by Leicester on Sunday.

Nowell and two Exeter team-mates who were also not involved in the game — fellow England internationals Luke Cowan-Dickie and Henry Slade — voiced their frustrations after the match.

Nowell appeared to criticise Dickson directly in a since-deleted tweet that said: “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 is set to leave Exeter at the end of this season, with La Rochelle his reported destination.