Newcastle boss hits out at ‘disturbing’ Saracens after Falcons accused of ‘over-egging’ injury following ‘horrific cleanout’

Colin Newboult
Newcastle Falcons boss Steve Diamond and the illegal Hugh Tizard cleanout (inset).

Newcastle Falcons boss Steve Diamond and the illegal Hugh Tizard cleanout.

Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Steve Diamond has slammed Saracens for querying Sammy Arnold’s injury following Hugh Tizard’s cleanout during a Premiership clash last year.

Newcastle defeated the Londoners for the first time in 15 years on November 29 as they secured a 17-12 triumph at Kingston Park, but it was marred by an incident late on which resulted in Arnold sustaining a knee issue.

It came as a result of Tizard, who came in from the side and targeted Arnold’s leg. The lock was subsequently sent off but the outcome of his disciplinary hearing was not known until December 30, a month after the game.

Diamond revealed why it took so long, with Sarries contesting the Falcons’ view that the former Munster centre would be absent for three months.

‘Saracens can do what they want’

“I have never come across this before and Saracens can do what they want, can’t they? As always,” he told reporters.

“The reason this has taken so long is that Saracens suggested our medical staff were over-egging the injury.

“I find it quite disturbing that another medical team can do that without even seeing the player. It went to Andy Williams, a well-known orthopaedic knee specialist, and he suggested 14 weeks before Sam is back.”

Tizard was handed a six-week ban, reduced from 12 for mitigation, and will be available to play again on January 14, but Arnold’s next game will be in March – when the Premiership resumes following its Six Nations break.

“So we have got a 14-week loss of a player. He [Tizard] got 12 weeks reduced to six and I think we should be taking that sort of action out of the game and it seems about the right sanction,” Diamond added.

“Sam will be back for the league games in March. He is a big player for us.”

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The incident caused a stir on social media after Tight Five Rugby posted a video of the cleanout with the caption: “Pretty horrific cleanout from Hugh Tizard to end the game…”

RFU judgement

The RFU’s disciplinary judgement confirmed Diamond’s comments that Saracens had asked for another medical opinion, but that it backed up Newcastle’s original prognosis.

“There had been a directions hearing on 16 December 2024 at which Saracens obtained permission to get medical evidence from Andy Williams, an independent consultation orthopaedic surgeon,” it read.

“This was because the medical evidence from Newcastle Falcons suggested an absence for Mr Arnold of about three months from playing, but evidence from the head of Medical Services at Saracens showed that some players with apparently similar injuries had a quicker recovery time. Mr Arnold had consented to his medical information about the injury being shared with Mr Williams.

“In the event Mr Williams suggested that there would be a return to full training of about ten to 14 weeks with a further two to four weeks before returning to match play.

“As far as the medical evidence is concerned, we do find that this was a serious injury to Mr Arnold. He has suffered a grade two or grade three MCL injury and will be unable to play for a period of about three months.”

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