Freddie Steward ‘no arms tackle' controversy – was right call made?

Telegraph

07-06-2025

This semi-final slug-fest was always likely to come down to the wire and, sure enough, a tight and tense encounter almost featured one more twist as Sale Sharks laid siege to Leicester Tigers in pursuit of a try that could have snatched victory.
On the 13th phase of a prolonged attack that had swept from touchline to touchline, Luke Cowan-Dickie spilt the ball in a tackle from Freddie Steward. That appeared to end the game and send the hosts through to the final.
Then, however, Matthew Carley was alerted to potential foul play in the collision between Steward and Cowan-Dickie, which had left the latter in need of medical attention.
What happened?
Having stepped inside one covering defender, Adam Radwan, Cowan-Dickie stooped into the challenge of Steward. The pair clashed heads, which has been a source of penalties and cards around the world over the past few years.
Tracking across the back-field on a slippery surface, Steward did well to keep his balance in contact. As the rain grew more intense in the second half, players had been sliding across the pitch constantly.
Carley needed to make sure, though, that the Leicester full-back had kept his arms 'up legally' – that is to say, that Steward was attempting to wrap and that the tackle was not a shoulder charge.
What was the decision?
After studying a couple of replays on the big screen, Carley reached a quick and clear decision. 'Arms up, no foul play,' he said. Stuart Terheege, the television match official, agreed: 'He's making an attempt to tackle there.'
Carley went on to suggest that Cowan-Dickie's actions had caused the head contact. 'Fifteen [Steward] is in a legal position to make the tackle,' the referee stated. 'He's got his arms up.
'Two [Cowan-Dickie] drops into the space, so there is no foul play.'
The final whistle was subsequently blown.
Was it the right decision?
Yes, because of the nature of Cowan-Dickie's carry and his sudden stoop. That said, there would have been little surprise to see a penalty awarded to Sale.
What was the reaction?
Former England scrum-half Danny Care and Wales captain Sam Warburton both agreed that is should been a penalty.
'We all think it is a penalty, don't we? It's a really tough one because it is not malicious. He has tackled Cowan-Dickie's head with his own head, and I think that has led to the knock-on,' said Care.
Warburton concurred. 'It's an ugly tackle, not a good tackle, it is not malicious, but it is ugly.' He then added: 'I think he has got that wrong. I don't see much of a wrap there.
https://x.com/rugbyontnt/status/1931395148929290530
Alex Sanderson, the Sharks director of rugby, however, declared no complaints in his post-match interview.
Steward did concede that his technique could have been more polished. 'I was running around like a headless chicken at the end,' he admitted. 'Luke stepped in and I just got low and tried to belt him. Not the best technique.
'I thought it was fine and I was surprised he went to the TMO. I tried to wrap the arms.'