Karl Dickson’s Danny Care decision defended by RFU

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has moved to defend Karl Dickson’s decision not to send off Danny Care, his former Harlequins teammate, against Northampton Saints on Saturday at Twickenham.

Care, who had received a yellow card in the first half for a high tackle on Courtney Lawes, scrambled back to stop a break from Northampton back-rower Juarno Augustus during the second period.

The veteran scrum-half collided with a supporting James Ramm and then tackled Alex Mitchell, stalling the Saints attack. Dickson blew for a penalty and then appeared to reach towards his pocket for a card. However, following a discussion with the television match official (TMO), Andrew Jackson, it was deemed that a penalty to Northampton was sufficient.

Paul Hull, the RFU’s head of professional game match officials, was quoted in a statement to TNT Sports that explained why Dickson had initially reached for his pocket to dismiss Care, only to lower his hand “to fully assess the situation”.

Dickson, according to the statement, had initially thought that a ruck had been formed and that Care had “cynically” tackled Mitchell while off his feet. In fact, no ruck had formed on the back of Augustus’ run. As a result, there was “nothing illegal” about Care’s challenge on Mitchell.

Northampton were awarded a penalty for Care’s push on Ramm, but Dickson felt as though there was no need for a second yellow card because Ramm was not in a position to receive an offload from Augustus, having overrun his Northampton colleague.

The statement noted that, had a ruck been formed, Ramm would have had to enter it from the side, therefore risking a penalty anyway. Care was replaced within moments of the incident with Will Porter, his deputy, scoring twice to land a 41-32 victory for Harlequins.