Ollie Lawrence has apologized for his role in an incident which saw England team-mate Alex Mitchell sin-binned in Bath’s Gallagher Premiership defeat at Northampton on Sunday.
Lawrence and Mitchell collided heads as the Saints scrum-half was taking a tackle at Franklin Gardens, with the Bath center crumpled to the ground holding his face after the collision.
Referee Anthony Woodthorpe booked Mitchell before Lawrence appeared to smile at the decision as team-mate Finn Russell prepared to take the resulting penalty.
After accusations of overreaction, Lawrence used his accusations X account to express his remorse.
“I apologize if my actions today offended anyone,” he wrote. “In review, I understand the frustration expressed! I’ll be better.”
Lawrence had earlier upset the home crowd with a late shoulder tackle on George Hendy that forced the full-back out of the game.
Saints beat Bath 35-34 as Fin Smith converted a late penalty to hand the league leaders only their second defeat of the season.
Bath had inflicted a record 68-10 defeat on Saracens the week before.
