Latest news with #SamUnderhill
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Sam Underhill to miss Bath's treble tilt after four-match ban
Sam Underhill was shown a yellow card after making head-on-head contact with Davit Niniashvili during Bath's Challenge Cup victory over Lyon - Premier Sports Sam Underhill will miss the end of the Premiership season and Bath's tilt at a historic treble after receiving a four-match ban for a dangerous tackle in the Challenge Cup final victory over Lyon. The England flanker, who has been in fine form since returning from injury and suspension, was cited after receiving a yellow card from referee Hollie Davidson for his head-on-head collision with Lyon full-back Davit Niniashvili in the first half of the 37-12 victory in Cardiff. In a hearing on Tuesday, the 28-year-old accepted that he had committed an act of foul play but denied that it met the red-card threshold. Advertisement The disciplinary panel disagreed, concluding that Underhill had tackled Niniashvili in a 'dangerous manner' and that the collision warranted a red card. The panel adjudged that the offence was at the mid-range of World Rugby's sanctions and that a six-week ban was the appropriate entry point. Two weeks were removed for Underhill's remorse and foul-play acceptance but due to his prior disciplinary record – this is his second ban this season for a dangerous tackle – there was no further mitigation and the final suspension stands at four weeks. European Professional Club Rugby added in its statement that 'the date when Underhill can return to play will be determined once his future playing schedule is confirmed'. Still available for England and Lions While the ban precludes Underhill from any involvement in Bath's hopes of lifting a first Premiership title in 29 years, the flanker could still feature in all of England's Tests against Argentina and the USA this summer and, even, Lions matches in the event of a late call-up. Advertisement Underhill will certainly miss Bath's trip to Saracens this weekend and their Premiership semi-final at the Rec six days later. Should Bath reach the final, then that would act as the third match of Underhill's ban. An England XV face a France XV at Twickenham a week later and the flanker, technically, will be eligible to play in that match and Telegraph Sport understands that the Rugby Football Union are expecting that to be included in any ban, as the fourth match, so long as Bath reach the Premiership final. If Bath lose their home semi-final on Friday June 6 then the first Test against Argentina in La Plata on July 5 will be included in Underhill's ban no matter what. The West Country side have already won the Premiership Rugby Cup as well as the European Challenge Cup. Advertisement Although Bath are not short of quality back-rowers, Underhill's absence will still be keenly felt. Ted Hill and Miles Reid started alongside the flanker on the back row in the victory over Lyon, with Guy Pepper coming off the bench. Underhill missed all of England's Six Nations campaign owing to injury but has returned in characteristic form, earning the player-of-the-match award as Bath defeated Edinburgh in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup in the Scottish capital. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Sam Underhill to miss Bath's treble tilt after four-match ban
Sam Underhill will miss the end of the Premiership season and Bath's tilt at a historic treble after receiving a four-match ban for a dangerous tackle in the Challenge Cup final victory over Lyon. The England flanker, who has been in fine form since returning from injury and suspension, was cited after receiving a yellow card for his shoulder to the head of Lyon full-back Davit Niniashvili in the first half of the 37-12 victory in Cardiff. "You are very, very lucky..." 🗣️ Big moment in the first half as Sam Underhill was issued a yellow card for a head-on-head collision, rather than a straight red 🟨 #ChallengeCupRugby — Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) May 23, 2025 In a hearing on Tuesday, the 28-year-old accepted that he had committed an act of foul play but denied that it met the red-card threshold. The disciplinary panel disagreed, concluding that Underhill had tackled Niniashvili in a 'dangerous manner' and that the collision warranted a red card. The panel adjudged that the offence was at the mid-range of World Rugby's sanctions and that a six-week ban was the appropriate entry point. Two weeks were removed for Underhill's remorse and foul-play acceptance but due to his prior disciplinary record – this is his second ban this season for a dangerous tackle – there was no further mitigation and the final suspension stands at four weeks. European Professional Club Rugby added in its statement that 'the date when Underhill can return to play will be determined once his future playing schedule is confirmed'. Still available for England and Lions While the ban precludes Underhill from any involvement in Bath's hopes of lifting a first Premiership title in 29 years, the flanker could still feature in all of England's Tests against Argentina and the USA this summer and, even, Lions matches in the event of a late call-up. Underhill will certainly miss Bath's trip to Saracens this weekend and their Premiership semi-final at the Rec six days later. Should Bath reach the final, then that would act as the third match of Underhill's ban. An England XV face a France XV at Twickenham a week later and the flanker, technically, will be eligible to play in that match and Telegraph Spor t understands that the Rugby Football Union are expecting that to be included in any ban, as the fourth match, so long as Bath reach the Premiership final. If Bath lose their home semi-final on Friday June 6 then the first Test against Argentina in La Plata on July 5 will be included in Underhill's ban no matter what. Although Bath are not short of quality back-rowers, Underhill's absence will still be keenly felt. Ted Hill and Miles Reid started alongside the flanker on the back row in the victory over Lyon, with Guy Pepper coming off the bench. Underhill missed all of England's Six Nations campaign owing to injury but has returned in characteristic form, earning the player-of-the-match award as Bath defeated Edinburgh in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup in the Scottish capital.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Sam Underhill ruled OUT of Bath's Gallagher Premiership title bid due to four-week ban for dangerous tackling
Bath's bid to claim the Gallagher Premiership title and complete an historic treble has been hit after key man Sam Underhill was ruled out of the end-of-season play-offs by a ban. Johann van Graan's side are favourites for domestic glory having already won the Premiership Rugby Cup and the European Challenge Cup. The second of those successes came against Lyon in Cardiff last Friday in a game in which England flanker Underhill was yellow carded for dangerous tackling. Referee Hollie Davidson somehow failed to send Underhill from the field despite him recklessly colliding head-on-head with Lyon's Georgian back Davit Niniashvili. Instead, Davidson sent Underhill to the sin bin for 10 minutes. But after the Principality Stadium clash, Underhill was cited and an independent disciplinary panel on Wednesday confirmed a four-week suspension. It means the tough-tackling back-row won't play again this season, missing his team's home Premiership semi-final a week on Friday. Underhill would also be unavailable to play in the league's final, if Bath make it that far. It is undoubtedly a big blow to Bath's hopes. Underhill is a certain starter for head of rugby Van Graan if fit and could also miss the start of England's summer tour of the Americas. As runaway league leaders, Bath have already secured a home semi-final with one round of the regular Premiership season still to come on Saturday. Van Graan's side were beaten in last year's final at Twickenham by Northampton Saints, but are in a good position to go one further in this campaign even without Underhill. Guy Pepper is the most likely player to step in for Bath at No 7.
The Independent
4 days ago
- General
- The Independent
Sam Underhill handed four-match ban for dangerous tackle in Challenge Cup final
England flanker Sam Underhill is set to miss Bath's bid for the Gallagher Premiership title after receiving a four-week ban. Underhill was cited for a dangerous tackle on Lyon full-back Davit Niniashvili during Bath's EPCR Challenge Cup final victory in Cardiff. The Bath forward received a yellow card from Scottish referee Hollie Davidson, but a complaint was then lodged by match citing commisssioner Philippe Lenne. An independent disciplinary committee imposed the period of suspension, with European Professional Club Rugby stating his return to play date will be determined once his future playing schedule is confirmed. Bath's next fixture is a final game of the regular Premiership season against Saracens on Saturday. That is followed by a play-off on June 6, then the Premiership final eight days later if Bath get there. In terms of Underhill's potential England schedule, there is a non-cap match against France on June 21, with the first Test against Argentina two weeks after that. EPCR said: 'Underhill accepted that he had committed an act of foul play, but did not accept that it warranted a red card. 'The independent disciplinary committee upheld the complaint, finding that Underhill had tackled Davit Niniashvili in a dangerous manner that warranted a red card, and it determined that the offending was at the mid-range of World Rugby's sanctions and six weeks was selected as the appropriate entry point. 'The committee gave the player credit for his remorse and timely acceptance that he had committed an act of foul play. 'But because of his prior disciplinary record, the committee were only able to discount the entry point sanction by two weeks. They therefore imposed a four-week suspension.' Underhill received a three-week ban in April after being sent off for a high tackle against Challenge Cup opponents Pau. He is an integral part of the Bath armoury under head of rugby Johann van Graan, and his ban is a major blow for the club. Premiership title success would see them complete an historic trophy treble this season, having already won the Challenge Cup and Premiership Rugby Cup.
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Underhill to miss rest of Bath's season with ban
Flanker Sam Underhill will miss the rest of Bath's season after being given a four-week ban for a dangerous tackle during the club's European Challenge Cup final victory against was shown a yellow card for the head-on-head collision with Lyon full-back Davit Niniashvili in the 26th England international was cited on Monday for the incident, and an independent panel upheld the complaint that it warranted a red will be unavailable for Bath's match against Saracens on Saturday, as well as their Premiership semi-final on Friday, 6 June. He would be unavailable if the club were to reach the Premiership final at Twickenham on 14 June, and if selected for England this summer, would also be unavailable to face France on 21 June and potentially Argentina on 5 July. The tackle was reviewed by referee Hollie Davidson and the television match officials during the game, with a change in direction from Niniashvili before the collision deemed a mitigating factor to downgrade the incident from red to a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday, Underhill accepted he had committed an act of foul play but did not accept it warranted a red card. The committee determined it was a mid-range offence, which would warrant a six-week ban, and downgraded it to four due to Underhill's remorse. But they were unable to reduce it further due to his prior record. The 28-year-old was given a three-week ban in April after also being sent off by Davidson during Bath's Challenge Cup quarter-final victory against Lyon in April. Underhill, who has 41 caps for England, has made 13 appearances for Bath this season.
