Departing Exeter Chiefs hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie has taken to Twitter to share his thoughts with a four word tweet that has sparked heavy debate with his followers and rugby fans.
The 29-year-old, who is currently sidelined with injury and is expected to miss the start of England’s Six Nations campaign, tweeted after Exeter’s loss to the Bulls in Pretoria which was marred by a controversial red card to centre Henry Slade.
Shortly after Slade’s red card, Cowan-Dickie tweeted out “how soft is rugby” which quickly garnered over 100,000 views as fans piled in to reply to the England hooker.
How soft is rugby 🙄
— Luke cowan dickie (@1_Dickie) January 14, 2023
Cowan-Dickie didn’t stop there however, happily replying back-and-forth with a few fans over his views in a welcome display of direct player-fan engagement.
Some of his replies were crafted with humour, as one South African fan hit out at Cowan-Dickie with “sour grapes” to which his response was “I don’t like grapes.”
I don’t like grapes
— Luke cowan dickie (@1_Dickie) January 14, 2023
A fan was prepared to bring up Cowan-Dickie’s chop tackle technique, which some fans think is dangerous, but the reply by the Exeter Chief shut the fan down quickly.
He wrote with self-congratulating humour: “Text book I think they call it” with a green tick.
Text book I think they call it ✅
— Luke cowan dickie (@1_Dickie) January 14, 2023
The England hooker showed no fear about getting into it with upset fans, responding to one complaint with “this for real?” before claiming a yellow was the maximum penalty under the current rules.
This for real? First contact on the shoulder. Max yellow that’s the rules
— Luke cowan dickie (@1_Dickie) January 14, 2023
“It’s to reduce head contact, something that will help you when you are older” another fan wrote, referring to the Slade incident.
Cowan-Dickie responded: “But the impact to the head was minimal as he hit shoulder first no? Again I agree rules need to be in place, I just feel it’s too much at the minute”
But the impact to the head was minimal as he hit shoulder first no? Again I agree rules need to be in place, I just feel it’s to much at the minute!
— Luke cowan dickie (@1_Dickie) January 14, 2023
One Bulls fan went at him about the Chiefs performance, calling them ‘”lucky” to be in the game and not “very good” to which Cowan-Dickie insisted he was making a general statement, not about the Chiefs-Bulls game.
Was a statement about rugby in general, not the game 😘
— Luke cowan dickie (@1_Dickie) January 14, 2023
The reaction to the Slade red card was generally critical with many believing it was not worthy of a red.
Former England international and The Rugby Pod host Andy Goode led the charge and labelled the call “ludicrous” and “never a red”, which was a view shared by many fans.
Never a red card for Henry Slade, ludicrous decision. First contact is on the shoulder and he slides up pic.twitter.com/BgTe8FCkJV
— Andy Goode (@AndyGoode10) January 14, 2023
Harsh call against Slade there… thought he made initial contact on the shoulder, and Arendse changing direction/dipping… #BULvEXE
— Jon Cardinelli (@jon_cardinelli) January 14, 2023
Quite possibly the most ridiculous red card I’ve seen for a while against Slade! Very harsh decision
— Georgia Hill (@GeorgiaHill78) January 14, 2023
Henry Slade and Exeter Chiefs ABSOLUTELY shafted. Disgraceful decision by another cowboy official. #HeinekenChampionsCup #BULvEXE
— Ross Hancock (@RossiHancock) January 14, 2023
The Slade sending off was farcical. First contact clearly on the shoulder and the player was at knee height. Don’t want to see head injuries but rugby is being ruined by decisions like that. #BULvEXE
— Mike Walton (@mwtheplumber) January 14, 2023
Henry Slade sent off for @ExeterChiefs by replacement referee against @BlueBullsRugby despite initial contact being on the shoulder. Big implications for @EnglandRugby
— chris jones (@chrisjonespress) January 14, 2023
Henry Slade very unfortunate to be given a red card for a high tackle on Kurt-Lee Arendse, who had ducked down, initial contact was on the shoulder as well before sliding up.
Yellow would have sufficed.— Ken Borland (@KenBorland) January 14, 2023
Henry Slade knees were basically touching the grass he couldn’t have been any lower. Just a rugby incident, never a red. #killingthegame #BULvEXE
— Fabrizio Olduini (@FabrizioOlduini) January 14, 2023
I’ve just seen the Henry Slade red card. What were the officials thinking!
— Chris Davies (@RubbishNo3) January 15, 2023
No way is this ref debating a red card for Henry Slade!!!!! What a joke. That’s not even a yellow
— For Rucks Sake (@RucksSake) January 14, 2023
