Dragons head of performance Dan Baugh was banned from entering the field of play after being admonished by referee Ben Whitehouse for putting his hand on the official's arm during last night's clash with the Ospreys.
Former Canada international Baugh had been running water on to the pitch throughout the first half of the Dragons' 20-5 win over the Ospreys at Rodney Parade, before an incident just before half-time saw his water-carrying duties ended early. Read the full match report here.
After Ospreys wing Mat Protheroe caught Dragons fly-half Will Reed with a high tackle that would result in a red card, tensions were high - with Whitehouse taking issue with Baugh being vocal on the field while the official was deciding what Protheroe's punishment would be.
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"Dan, listen to me very clearly. If you ever shout at me like that again, you will be in the stand," warned Whitehouse.
Baugh responded, saying "Ben, I'm talking to my players. I can talk to my players."
As he did so, he put his hand on Whitehouse's arm just as the official was turning away - causing Whitehouse to turn around in shock and state: "Don't touch me."
Whitehouse then banned Baugh - who had a reputation as a player for being an intimidating, no-nonsense individual - from the field, saying: "This man stays off the field from now on."
Speaking at half time, former Wales hooker Richard Hibbard admitted that few would have the nerve to deal with Baugh in that situation, saying on Viaplay's coverage: "Fair play to Ben, there's not many people who will stand up to Dan Baugh like that.
"Dan Baugh is a huge influence on the sideline. He's very overzealous and gets the boys up for the game. He's got a bit too excited there and Ben's taken offence to it. Fair play to Ben, not many would do that."
Afterwards, Dragons coach Dai Flanagan admitted that he'd not seen the incident.
"I was up in the gantry, trying to figure stuff out and I didn't see it," he said. "All I heard was Dan can't come back on the field. I'll look into it now. I'm unsure what happened."
