Departing Exeter Chiefs hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie has taken to Twitter to share his ideas with a 4 phrase tweet that has sparked heavy debate together with his followers and rugby followers.
The 29-year-old, who’s at present sidelined with damage and is anticipated to overlook the beginning of England’s Six Nations marketing campaign, tweeted after Exeter’s loss to the Bulls in Pretoria which was marred by a controversial purple card to middle Henry Slade.
Shortly after Slade’s purple card, Cowan-Dickie tweeted out “how comfortable is rugby” which shortly garnered over 100,000 views as followers piled in to answer to the England hooker.
How comfortable is rugby 🙄
— Luke cowan dickie (@1_Dickie) January 14, 2023
Cowan-Dickie did not cease there nonetheless, fortunately replying back-and-forth with a number of followers over his views in a welcome show of direct player-fan engagement.
A few of his replies had been crafted with humour, as one South African fan hit out at Cowan-Dickie with “bitter grapes” to which his response was “I do not like grapes.”
I do not like grapes
— Luke cowan dickie (@1_Dickie) January 14, 2023
A fan was ready to carry up Cowan-Dickie’s chop deal with approach, which some followers assume is harmful, however the reply by the Exeter Chief shut the fan down shortly.
He wrote with self-congratulating humour: “Textual content e-book I believe they name it” with a inexperienced tick.
Textual content e-book I believe they name it ✅
— Luke cowan dickie (@1_Dickie) January 14, 2023
The England hooker confirmed no concern about entering into it with upset followers, responding to at least one grievance with “this for actual?” earlier than claiming a yellow was the utmost penalty below the present guidelines.
This for actual? First contact on the shoulder. Max yellow that is the foundations
— Luke cowan dickie (@1_Dickie) January 14, 2023
“It is to scale back head contact, one thing that may show you how to if you end up older” one other fan wrote, referring to the Slade incident.
Cowan-Dickie responded: “However the affect to the top was minimal as he hit shoulder first no? Once more I agree guidelines must be in place, I simply really feel it is an excessive amount of on the minute”
However the affect to the top was minimal as he hit shoulder first no? Once more I agree guidelines must be in place, I simply really feel it is to a lot on the minute!
— Luke cowan dickie (@1_Dickie) January 14, 2023
One Bulls fan went at him in regards to the Chiefs efficiency, calling them ‘”fortunate” to be within the sport and never “excellent” to which Cowan-Dickie insisted he was making a basic assertion, not in regards to the Chiefs-Bulls sport.
Was a press release about rugby usually, not the sport 😘
— Luke cowan dickie (@1_Dickie) January 14, 2023
The response to the Slade purple card was usually crucial with many believing it was undeserving of a purple.
Former England worldwide and The Rugby Pod host Andy Goode led the cost and labeled the decision “ludicrous” and “by no means a purple”, which was a view shared by many followers.
By no means a purple card for Henry Slade, ludicrous determination. First contact is on the shoulder and he slides up pic.twitter.com/BgTe8FCkJV
—Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) January 14, 2023
Harsh name towards Slade there… thought he made preliminary contact on the shoulder, and Arendse altering course/dipping… #BULvEXE
— Jon Cardinelli (@jon_cardinelli) January 14, 2023
Fairly probably probably the most ridiculous purple card I’ve seen for some time towards Slade! Very harsh determination
— Georgia Hill (@GeorgiaHill78) January 14, 2023
Henry Slade and Exeter Chiefs ABSOLUTELY shafted. Disgraceful determination by one other cowboy official. #HeinekenChampionsCup #BULvEXE
— Ross Hancock (@RossiHancock) January 14, 2023
The Slade sending off was farcical. First contact clearly on the shoulder and the participant was at knee top. Do not wish to see head accidents however rugby is being ruined by choices like that. #BULvEXE
—Mike Walton (@mwtheplumber) January 14, 2023
Henry Slade feels off for @ExeterChiefs by substitute referee towards @BlueBullsRugby regardless of preliminary contact being on the shoulder. Massive implications for @EnglandRugby
— chris jones (@chrisjonespress) January 14, 2023
Henry Slade very unlucky to be given a purple card for a excessive deal with on Kurt-Lee Arendse, who had ducked down, preliminary contact was on the shoulder as nicely earlier than sliding up.
Yellow would have sufficed.—Ken Borland (@KenBorland) January 14, 2023
Henry Slade’s knees had been mainly touching the grass he could not have been any decrease. Only a rugby incident, by no means a purple. #killingthegame #BULvEXE
— Fabrizio Olduini (@FabrizioOlduini) January 14, 2023
I’ve simply seen the Henry Slade purple card. What had been the officers considering!
— Chris Davies (@RubbishNo3) January 15, 2023
No method is that this ref debating a purple card for Henry Slade!!!!! What a joke. That is not even a yellow
— For Rucks Sake (@RucksSake) January 14, 2023