Sale chief Diamond is charged by RFU

Sale Sharks chief Steve Diamond has been charged by the Rugby Football Union with two counts of verbally abusing match officials.

The Sharks’ executive director of sport is due to appear at an RFU disciplinary hearing in Stafford next Tuesday night. Diamond is alleged to have verbally abused ref Wayne Barnes and assistants Rhys Davies and Gareth Copsey at the end of last Sunday’s Premiership game at London Irish.