Dragons assistant coach learns his fate after referee altercation
DISCIPLINARY NEWS: Dragons head of performance, Dan Baugh has been handed a four-week ban by the United Rugby Championship following his altercation with referee Ben Whitehouse.
Baugh landed himself in hot water after putting his hands on Whitehouse in the first half of the Dragons' victory against Ospreys at Rodney Parade last Saturday.
Earlier this week Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan said internal action had been taken with Baugh.
The Dragons decided that Baugh will not be involved with his normal "water boy" duties for Saturday's game with the Sharks in Durban but has travelled to South Africa with the 30-strong playing squad.
On Friday, URC finally revealed their verdict regarding the incident.
The URC has handed Baugh a suspension of four weeks, while the Dragons have been sanctioned with a suspended £5 000 fine under Disciplinary Rule 3.3.5 which refers to a club’s duty to exercise reasonable and proper control over their players and staff.
The tournament organisers stated that a misconduct complaint had been laid against Baugh and the Dragons.
Baugh engaged with referee Whitehouse from Wales in a manner that was deemed to breach Championship Rule 4.13 (communicating with match officials) and Disciplinary Rules 3.2 and 3.3 (refer to unsporting conduct).
As a result, Baugh has been banned for four games with three suspended across the course of the 2023/24 season. The ban means that Baugh is prohibited from being in the Playing Enclosures (Pitch & Technical) areas but can sit in the stand, enter the dressing room and/or the coaches' box during this weekend’s fixture between Dragons and Sharks in Durban.
*Read the full statement below...
A misconduct complaint brought against Dragons RFC Head of Performance, Dan Baugh, has resulted in sanctions for both Baugh and the club.
During the Dragons RFC v Ospreys Round five fixture on Saturday, November 18 at Rodney Parade, Baugh engaged with referee Ben Whitehouse (WRU) in a manner that was deemed to breach Championship Rule 4.13 (communicating with match officials) and Disciplinary Rules 3.2 and 3.3 (refer to unsporting conduct).
As a result, Baugh has been banned for four games with three suspended across the course of the 2023/24 season. The ban means that Baugh is prohibited from being in the Playing Enclosures (Pitch & Technical) areas but can sit in the stand, enter the dressing room and/or the coaches box during for this weekend’s fixture between Dragons and Sharks in Durban.
Should Baugh repeat this offence or any other action deemed as misconduct throughout the rest of the season he will have to serve the remaining three games of the ban. A fine of £2,500 will also be incurred by Baugh in such a situation.
Additionally, Dragons have been sanctioned with a suspended £5,000 fine under Disciplinary Rule 3.3.5 which refers to a club’s duty to exercise reasonable and proper control over their players and staff.
The United Rugby Championship has made it clear to its clubs and their match-day personnel and squads that unsporting or disrespectful behaviour towards match officials will not be tolerated. The league thanks Dragons RFC for their compliance and understanding during this process and believes that this is a rare and isolated incident that is out of character with the club’s positive reputation.