Note from Cumbria RU Discipline

Following the recent deliberate abandonment of a Cumbria Counties League game between Egremont and Millom, the Millom club were charged with conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Game. 

Two Millom players were dismissed from the field of play by the referee and subsequently sanctioned for showing disrespect to the referee. One player has been suspended from playing for four games, with second receiving a one match playing ban.  

After the sending off of the players, on 62 minutes, the Millom team left the field, causing the game to be abandoned. The Millom club were later charged with engaging in conduct prejudicial to the interests of the Game by causing a league match to be abandoned because of the conduct of their team.  

At a disciplinary hearing on 23rd October, chaired by an independent judicial officer appointed by the RFU, the panel found the case against Millom proved. Additionally, one of the two players sent off for disrespect to the referee was found guilty, the other having admitted his part in the events.  

The Millom club were given a league points deduction of 25 points and ordered to pay a fine of £2000.  

Disrespect and abuse of the match referee in any game must be discouraged, and Cumbria Rugby Union hope that the sanctions imposed in this case will act as a deterrent in the future, but at the same time indicating that severe penalties are at large in appropriate cases.