The Rugby Football Union launched an investigation last night into complaints that a Sale Sharks player allegedly leaked confidential team information to Bristol before their Aviva Premiership home game on New Year’s Day.
The Times understands that the player in question is Tom Arscott, whose brother, Luke, plays for Bristol. Neither of the brothers were playing in the match at the AJ Bell Stadium, which Bristol won 24-23.
The RFU issued a statement confirming that it was “investigating a complaint made by Sale Sharks in relation to the passing of information to the opposition team ahead of the match against Bristol earlier this month”. The RFU investigation will also examine Bristol’s conduct and ask that if they were in possession of Sale tactics as alleged in the complaint, why was that not reported, and also ask whether they acted on the information in the game.
The issue is not over team selection because Premiership clubs announce their line-ups 24 hours before a match, but is believed to include the alleged leaking of on-field tactics.
Bristol issued a statement last night: “Bristol Rugby has been made aware of a complaint from Sale Sharks, which is now being investigated by the RFU.
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“The club are absolutely confident of no wrongdoing in this matter and will fully co-operate with the investigation.”
There was no comment from Sale last night but Tom Arscott, who played for Bristol as a wing or full back between 2007-10 and joined Sale from London Welsh in 2013, is thought to face an internal club disciplinary hearing today.
The Times understands that the former England Under-19 international allegedly met his brother Luke, a full back, in the Bristol team’s Manchester hotel on New Year’s Eve, the night before the match.
One source suggested that there may have been a flow of information in both directions but at this stage the RFU’s investigation is believed to be focused only on Tom, the Sale player, and Bristol’s actions as a club.
Sale led 15-0 and 23-10 in the match but Bristol snatched a victory that injected life into their previously ailing bid for Premiership survival. Tom Varndell scored his record-equalling 90th Premiership try in the first half for Bristol before Rhodri Williams and Max Crumpton touched down to bring the away team back into the game, with nine points from Jason Woodward winning the game for Bristol.
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