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 found himself in a sticky situation last Saturday when he touched Whitehouse during the Dragons’ opening-half victory over the Ospreys at Rodney Parade.
Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan announced earlier this week that Baugh had been the subject of internal action.
For this Saturday’s Sharks game in Durban, the Dragons have decided that Baugh will not be participating in his typical “water boy” duties. Instead, he has traveled to South Africa along with the 30-man playing squad.d
On Friday, URC finally revealed their verdict regarding the incident.
Baugh will serve a four-week suspension from the URC, and the Dragons will pay a suspended fine of £5 000 in accordance with Disciplinary Rule 3.3.5, which speaks to a club’s obligation to maintain reasonable and appropriate control over its players and staff.
According to the tournament organizers, Baugh and the Dragons had been the subject of a misconduct complaint.
Baugh’s interactions with Wales-based referee Whitehouse were judged to violate both Disciplinary Rules 3.2 and 3.3 (unsporting conduct) and Championship Rule 4.13 (communicating with match officials).
Baugh will therefore serve three game suspensions and a four-game ban during the 2023–2024 season. Due to the suspension, Baugh is not allowed to be in the Playing Enclosures (Pitch & Technical) areas during this weekend’s Dragons vs. Sharks game in Durban. However, he is allowed to sit in the stand, enter the dressing room, and/or enter the coaches’ box.
*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.
