Alan Paver was shown a red card in his side’s defeat by Worcester Warriors following a flashpoint on the touchline
Alan Paver, Head Coach of Cornish Pirates(Image: Getty Images)
Cornish Pirates joint-head coach Alan Paver has been banned from all matchday activity for the rest of the season after being found guilty of “assaulting a player on the field of play”.
Paver was shown a red card during the closing stages of Cornish Pirates’ defeat to Worcester Warriors at Mennaye Field after a touchline flashpoint spilled onto the pitch.
An RFU disciplinary hearing heard the incident initially involved Paver and Worcester fly-half Will Reed before replacement scrum-half Jake Garside entered the fray.
Evidence from referee Jamie Parr, his assistant and video footage concluded that Garside pushed Paver, who then responded by slapping the Worcester player in the face with an open hand.
The panel described the case as “one of a coach assaulting a player on the field of play” and handed Paver a 12-matchday suspension.
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However, that punishment was reduced by 50% because of his immediate apology, remorse and previously clean disciplinary record, meaning he will now serve a six-match ban.
That suspension rules him out of the Pirates’ five remaining Championship Rugby fixtures this season, plus one further meaningful game, which could be either a play-off or pre-season fixture.
The RFU confirmed Paver can continue to coach during the week, but only attend matches as a spectator.
In a written statement, Paver admitted his actions crossed the line.
“I would like to begin by acknowledging and accepting that I struck Worcester number 21, Jake Garside,” he said.
“I fully recognise that this was inappropriate and unacceptable conduct for a coach.
“I reacted poorly to this, and whilst leaving the field a second player, Jake Garside, made contact with me by placing his hands on my chest/shoulder.
“In that moment, I regretfully reacted by striking him with an open hand to the side of the head.
“I fully accept that my reaction was inappropriate and a loss of composure.”
Paver added that he apologised to match officials and Worcester staff after the game, stressing that in more than 14 years of coaching he had maintained a clean disciplinary record.
The ban means the experienced Pirates coach will play no direct part in matchdays for the rest of the campaign as the Championship season reaches its final weeks.
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