Players and fans turn on Just Stop Oil protesters as rugby premier league final abandoned

An activist from environmental group Just Stop Oil sprays orange paint on a field in Twickenham. Credit: AFP/Ben Stansall

Just Stop Rugby fans doused demonstrators with beer as they stopped the Premier League final at Twickenham.

Two men jumped over a knee-high barrier to run onto the field and release a cloud orange paint, 20 minutes game between Sale Sharks and Saracens.

Sale and England flanker Tom Curry helped remove a protester from the field by grabbing him by his jeans and helping stadium staff lift him up, while Sale captain Jono Ross had to refrain from physically colliding with another person.

Ross, after the last match of his career, said: “I do not agree with what they are doing. I don't agree with this. This is completely contrary to everything I believe in.

“Then coming to sporting events and ruining sporting events week after week, I don't agree with that. I don't agree with what they stand for.»

Sale and England flanker Tom Curry helps clear out a protester. Photo: Getty Images/Mike Hewitt

Saracens and England second row Maro Itoye said: “You can't put too much emphasis on this. Fair game for the guys who run them. I was just conserving my energy.»

The demonstration drew hoots from the crowd, who threw beer and other projectiles at the couple as they were escorted out by stewards.

They were subsequently arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage.

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It comes two days after the «Just Stop the Oil» protest at the Chelsea Flower Show, where an angry bystander hosed down protesters.

'Just Stop the Oil' protester receives less than warm reception in Twickenham after interruption of Rugby Premier League final

Video courtesy of our own @danscho1 pic.twitter.com/afL61lOuOQ

— Telegraph Rugby (@TelegraphRugby) May 27, 2023A Just Stop Oil protester is doused with beer as he is led away. Photo: Getty Images/David Rogers

Just Stop Oil, which is demanding the termination of any new licenses for oil, gas and coal projects, named the two men. like Dr. Patrick Hart, a 37-year-old doctor from Bristol, and builder Sam Johnson, 40, from Essex.

Dr. Hart claimed to have invaded the rugby field because it was his «duty as a doctor» .

Dr. Hart continues: «Just as the tobacco companies have lied to us that tobacco is safe, we have been lied to by fossil fuel squabbles and corrupt politicians.»

«They keep us in dependence on fossil fuels, even though they know it's killing us. I'm not prepared to let them get away with mass murder.”

#JustStopOil interrupts #PremRugby final pic.twitter.com/hEmcRrrqM6

— Rachel Burden (@rachelburden) May 27, 2023

Referee Luke Pierce stopped play for several minutes as protesters were escorted off the field. After the match restarted, the Saracens scored a penalty.

Alex Sanderson, director of Sale's rugby, said: “[My] reaction was simply, 'What's next?'. I can't run and choke them myself. This really created a break in the game that caused them to score a goal. It just shows how much concentration you need.”

The apparent ease with which the men took to the pitch is likely to raise questions about stadium security.

A Just Stop Oil protester is led off a field in Twickenham. Photo: Getty Images/Mike Hewitt

Twickenham Stadium pays tribute to the steward team, saying they «acted quickly and decisively». The demonstrators drew condemnation online, with one person apparently present at the match calling them «dolls» and urging «not to interfere with rugby.»

Since launching its campaign last year, Just Stop Oil claims more than 2,000 members have been arrested and 138 sent to prison.

At the Chelsea Flower Show on Thursday, three Just Stop Oil demonstrators crossed a barrier into an award-winning garden and threw orange powder on the plants.

The woman responded by taking a nearby hose and dousing the protesters with water.

Royal Horticultural Society security personnel eventually managed to escort the trio from the exhibition area where they were arrested.

Security in Twickenham captured a Just Stop Oil protester. Photo: Pennsylvania/David Davis. orange paint on a table at the Crucible in Sheffield.

The Met said in a statement: «Two men were arrested after paint was thrown on the field during the rugby union final in Twickenham today.»