Newcastle’s Calum Green cleared of biting

Newcastle Falcons lock Calum Green has been cleared of allegedly biting the arm of Sale Sharks hooker Rob Webber during their Premiership game on March 23.

The Falcons’ second-row was cited by independent citing commissioner Andy Blyth contrary to Law 9.12 – a player must not physically abuse anyone including biting.

Green contested the charge and, after hearing detailed evidence from an independent expert in 0ral pathology & forensic odontology, the citing was dismissed by the independent panel comprising Ian Unsworth QC (chair) with John Greenwood and Tony Wheat. Green is free to play again immediately.

“Allegations of biting are infrequently made but must be treated properly and taken seriously,” said panel chair Ian Unsworth QC. “This was an entirely proper citing and the RFU were duty bound to proceed with it.

“The panel accepted that Rob Webber genuinely and honestly believed that he had been bitten. However, he did not see it due to the respective players’ body positions, nor was there any other eye witness to it.

“While the video evidence undoubtedly showed that Calum Green’s mouth area was either in contact with or in close proximity to Rob Webber’s forearm, it was accepted by all that the footage did not show an actual bite take place.

“The independent expert witness requested by the panel was of the unequivocal view that an injury seen on Mr Webber’s forearm was positively not a bite mark. Furthermore, the expert was of the view that there was no evidence of any mark which would be consistent with a bite mark.”