Sale Sharks boss issues update on Jonny Hill’s alleged altercation with spectator
Sale Sharks second-row Jonny Hill and director of rugby Alex Sanderson.
Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson said he expects the police investigation into the incident involving second-row Jonny Hill and a spectator in June to be resolved next week.
A 28-year-old fan claimed he was grabbed around the throat and left with a cut above his eye following a bust-up with Hill at the end of Sale’s Premiership play-off clash with Bath at the Recreation Ground on June 1.
Hill was not involved in the match as he was injured and watching from the stands. The England international allegedly became involved with the supporter as he left his seat and walked down the stairs following his side’s 31-23 defeat.
He allegedly put the spectator in a headlock, breaking the fan’s sunglasses and cutting him above the eye.
‘He’s seeing the police on Monday’
Speaking on Thursday, Sanderson revealed: “A line is currently being drawn under it – he’s seeing the police on Monday and that will be finalised then.
“It’s been dropped from ABH (actual bodily harm) to something lesser, so that’s about as much as I can say because he’s got to finish his hearing, which is on Monday.”
When asked if Hill had faced internal discipline at Sale over the incident, Sanderson said: “Of course we’ve pulled him in and we’ve looked at it. We’ve had barristers, not to look after him but to make sure it gets done properly.
“That’s all been on the club because as soon as that comes out in the press he’s – not getting attacked so to speak – but people want to know the answers. We just want to give him as much support as possible from our side, knowing he was verbally abused as well.
‘You can’t condone acts of violence’
“I’m not saying I condone acts of violence – you can’t condone acts of violence particularly when you’re supposed to be setting the example in the sporting arena. But you just want a fair cop with it.”
At the time of the unsavoury incident, Hill was sidelined after sustaining a season-ending ruptured patella tendon in January, and Sanderson said he was close to full fitness ahead of Sale’s Premiership opener at home to Harlequins on September 22.
“He’s like a week or two off,” Sanderson said. “We’ve still got to wait and see what happens with the police and the RFU disciplinary after that. But if it was down to us then it would be next week or the week after.”
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