Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Steve Diamond has been given a six-match suspension after admitting a charge of directing verbal abuse towards match officials.

Diamond appeared before an independent disciplinary panel in connection with an admitted breach of RFU Rule 5.12 – conduct prejudicial to the interests of the game and/or Union – in circumstances where he is alleged to have directed verbal abuse towards match officials following the Exeter Chiefs v Newcastle Falcons match on Saturday March 29, 2025.

The panel, chaired by Sam Hillas KC sitting with panel members Becky Essex and Martyn Wood, found Diamond had directed verbal abuse towards match officials and he was given a six-match suspension.

Sam Hillas KC, independent disciplinary panel chair said:“Mr Diamond accepted that his conduct was prejudicial to the interests of the game.

“The two issues for the Panel were, firstly whether the words used towards the TMO amounted to disrespect or verbal abuse of a match official and secondly, whether the circumstances of what happened after the match gave rise to two separate charges. The Panel determined that Mr Diamond’s course of conduct should be dealt with as one charge of verbal abuse.

“Mr Diamond’s behaviour on 29 March was wholly unacceptable: the language used was inappropriate, abusive and entirely contrary to rugby’s core values. There is no place for abuse of match officials and this applies with equal force whether dealing with the professional or community game. Mr Diamond has, quite rightly, apologised to the match officials for his conduct on the day and the panel has made it clear that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated and should not be repeated.

“This offence was charged as a breach of RFU Rule 5.12 and, as such, the Panel was not bound by the sanctions table. The panel had regard to the entry points for breaches of Law 9.28 (match official abuse) as well as the relevant mitigating and aggravating features and determined a ban of six weeks was proportionate in all the circumstances.”

The full judgment will be made available in due course.

The RFU definition of a match-day ban is as follows:

Match-day activities includes any involvement in a team’s participation of a match, this will include selection for the team (starting or substitute), water carrying and being in and around the match day squad on the day of the match from 3 hours before up until 2 hours after the finish of the match. For team management (including coaches) this will include being with the match day squad on the day of the match up until an hour after the match. Any person suspended is not permitted within the Playing enclosure. For most teams, this would mean inside the pitch barrier.