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

Newcastle Falcons advisor head of rugby Steve Diamond says nan sport's disciplinary process "is flawed" arsenic he originates a six-match prohibition against Northampton Saints connected Friday.

Diamond, 56, was fixed nan suspension for abusing lucifer officials astatine nan extremity of a 17-15 defeat astatine Exeter Chiefs connected 29 March.

He was upset astir Exeter's match-winning effort successful nan past infinitesimal being awarded and angrily confronted nan officials aft nan game.

Diamond admitted nan charge, describing nan incident arsenic a "huge mistake", but says much knowledgeable officials whitethorn beryllium needed.

He said: "There's a problem pinch nan disciplinary system, not a problem pinch nan referees. There's only group for illustration maine prepared to opportunity things astir it, but it's not nan first clip these things person happened.

"I've sewage a six-week prohibition for saying an inappropriate remark - which I've apologised for - to a master referee successful complete privacy.

"If nan ref can't prime it up, because he can't spot everything and nan adjunct can't spot everything, surely for goodness liking nan TMO [television lucifer official] should beryllium seeing these things?

"The strategy is flawed. Maybe they request immoderate much finance and much knowledgeable group doing these jobs.

"There's nary accountability. We understand we person to person regularisation and understand I can't opportunity what I said, but there's sewage to beryllium immoderate accountability different group support making mistakes."

Diamond said he will beryllium watching nan Northampton lucifer successful a guidelines pinch his eight-year-old girl and is expecting different reliable game.

He told BBC Radio Newcastle: "They hit america 61-0 this year truthful they're not bad for a squad successful [eighth] place.

"They person an unbelievable backline and person proved their expertise successful Europe. It's going to beryllium a reliable crippled without a doubt."

The Falcons are bottommost of nan Premiership and aft hosting Saints they look Bath and Saracens away, Gloucester astatine location and Leicester Tigers distant connected nan last time of nan season.