'The system is flawed' - Diamond on six-match ban

Steve Diamond joined Newcastle in January 2024 and previously spent time at Sale and Worcester

Newcastle Falcons consultant director of rugby Steve Diamond says the sport's disciplinary process "is flawed" as he begins a six-match ban against Northampton Saints on Friday.

Diamond, 56, was given the suspension for abusing match officials at the end of a 17-15 defeat at Exeter Chiefs on 29 March.

He was upset about Exeter's match-winning try in the last minute being awarded and angrily confronted the officials after the game.

Diamond admitted the charge, describing the incident as a "huge mistake", but says more experienced officials may be needed.

He said: "There's a problem with the disciplinary system, not a problem with the referees. There's only people like me prepared to say things about it, but it's not the first time these things have happened.

"I've got a six-week ban for saying an inappropriate comment - which I've apologised for - to a professional referee in complete privacy.

"If the ref can't pick it up, because he can't see everything and the assistant can't see everything, surely for goodness sake the TMO [television match official] should be seeing these things?

"The system is flawed. Maybe they need some more investment and more experienced people doing these jobs.

"There's no accountability. We understand we have to have regulation and understand I can't say what I said, but there's got to be some accountability otherwise people keep making mistakes."

Diamond said he will be watching the Northampton match in a stand with his eight-year-old daughter and is expecting another tough game.

He told BBC Radio Newcastle: "They beat us 61-0 this year so they're not bad for a team in [eighth] place.

"They have an unbelievable backline and have proved their ability in Europe. It's going to be a tough game without a doubt."

The Falcons are bottom of the Premiership and after hosting Saints they face Bath and Saracens away, Gloucester at home and Leicester Tigers away on the final day of the season.