3:25pm, 09 November 2019

Wasps wing Paolo Odogwu has apologised for his behaviour in the aftermath of his red card for an accidental kick to the face of former Sale Sharks teammate Rohan Van Rensburg.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Du Preez brothers scored 22 of Sale’s points as they secured a significant 28-18 Gallagher Premiership win over Wasps.

However the late red card incident left a sour note to the encounter at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Odogwu got his matching order for kicking Rohan Janse Van Rensburg flush in the face when fielding a high ball late in the second-half. The 22-year-old extended his foot out which then collided with Van Rensburg’s face.

Despite the ugly optics of the incident, Odogwu appeared to laugh in derision at the referee’s decision to send him off. He admitted that his reaction wasn’t the best.

“Tough one to take, challenge in the air wasn’t intentional but reaction wasn’t the best in the heat of the moment, it’s an emotional game sometimes gets the best of you.

ADVERTISEMENT

“Apologies to Rohan and @SaleSharksRugby hope you’re all good. Onwards and upwards.”

Tough one to take, challenge in the air wasn’t intentional but reaction wasn’t the best in the heat of the moment, it’s an emotional game sometimes gets the best of you. Apologies to Rohan and @SaleSharksRugby hope you’re all good. Onwards and upwards ? — Paolo Odogwu (@notoriousPCO) November 8, 2019

Social meida inevitably got good mileage out of the incident; even the Wasps Rugby account appeared shocked.

https://twitter.com/WaspsRugby/status/1192920526148308993

https://twitter.com/DougBranch27/status/1192926565837025281

https://twitter.com/cocker/status/1192923300084760576

https://twitter.com/benglaze/status/1192921636409954311

https://twitter.com/DanBenn2/status/1192920667286654977

Odogwu has just deliberately kicked a man in the face and then protests a red card, therefore is a complete tool #SALvWAS — Mattie Park (@mattie_park18) November 8, 2019

ADVERTISEMENT

The Coventry born winger – ironically renowned for his footwork – moved to Wasps from Sale Sharks over the summer.

In 2016, the explosive back ran in eight tries in just three Premiership Sevens group matches for Sale to top Christian Wade’s try-scoring record in the competition.

10 – Paolo Odogwu was the top scorer in the 2016 @premrugby 7s, crossing the try line 10 times in five games. Prolific. pic.twitter.com/Q14tZEaQWJ — OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) July 26, 2017

During his first season in Manchester, he impressed across both the Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup, and has gone on to score seven tries in 29 first-team appearances for the Sharks.

He previously spent time with Leicester Tigers while also having represented England Under 20s.

This season’s Heineken Champions Cup and Challenge Cup for Gallagher Premiership and PRO14 clubs is launched in Cardiff. Players Chris Robshaw, Iain Henderson and Johnny Sexton comment on the upcoming tournament.