Butt and Thomas Banned for Three Games Following Premiership Red Cards

Bath centre Will Butt and Sale scrum-half Nye Thomas have each been issued three-game suspensions by the Rugby Football Union (RFU). These penalties follow the red cards they received during their Premiership rugby match last week. Butt, aged 24, was dismissed from the game in the 51st minute for a dangerous tackle on Le Roux Roets, which involved lifting him and driving him to the ground, resulting in him landing on his head. Thomas, 21, received his red card 10 minutes later, after making head contact with Bath winger Will Muir during a tackle intended to prevent a try. Both Butt and Thomas acknowledged their respective infractions at separate disciplinary hearings held this week. Butt is now ineligible for Bath’s three forthcoming Premiership Rugby Cup (PRC) group stage fixtures. These include an away game against Ampthill on Saturday, a home match versus Bristol on 9 November, and another away fixture against Bedford on 23 November. Thomas, however, has the possibility of having his three-game ban reduced to two, provided he completes a World Rugby coaching intervention programme. He is set to miss Sale’s PRC encounters with Doncaster and Caldy, but could potentially be available for their match against Newcastle on 23 November.