Harlequins hooker Dave Ward escaped a long ban for spitting on Sunday night after the RFU found insufficient evidence to cite him.

Wasps players branded Ward’s behaviour ‘disgusting’ after footage appeared to show him spitting towards flanker Thomas Young.

The 33-year-old was also shown a yellow card for stamping on Young’s ankle as tempers flared in front of an 80,000 crowd at Twickenham on Saturday.

Harlequins hooker Dave Ward escaped a lengthy ban for spitting on Sunday night

Video footage appeared to show him spitting towards flanker Thomas Young at Twickenham

Ward was given a one-match ban for the stamp by his club, who issued a statement on Sunday in which he denied spitting.

‘I apologise unreservedly to Thomas Young, Wasps and everyone at Harlequins for my yellow card,’ said Ward. ‘I would also like to make clear that I did not spit on another player. Regardless of what the television footage looks like I know that I have never spat on a player in all my career and will never do so.’

Images of Ward went viral on social media immediately after the incident and prompted an angry backlash from current and former professionals. BT Sport co-commentator Austin Healey was the first to pick up on the footage, saying: ‘He spits on him, and then stamps on his ankle. He’s lucky he has not got more there, if you spit on a player it is completely unacceptable.’

Injured Wasps scrum-half Joe Simpson added on Twitter: ‘Spitting and treading on another player is disgusting.’

But Kyle Sinckler, who played tighthead prop for Quins on Saturday, backed Ward via his social media account.

‘Some of the abuse Dave Ward is getting is a complete disgrace. I can vouch for him he would never do anything in that manner intentionally. You are ruining such a special occasion for Premiership rugby with your abuse.’

Sinckler was referring to a selection of vicious tweets labelling Ward a ‘scumbag’ and ‘a disgrace to rugby’.

The 33-year-old was also shown a yellow card for stamping on Young’s ankle during the game

Ward was handed a one-match ban for the stamp by his club but he continued to deny spitting

The storm erupted after the ball was unplayable at a ruck and referee Craig Maxwell-Keys stopped the game. Ward then walked over to a group of players on the ground and appeared to spit downwards, in the direction of Wasps No 8 Nizaam Carr and Young.

He then trod on Young’s ankle which angered the back-rower, who then stood up and tried to push Ward over. A mini melee ensued, and Television Match Official Sean Davey radioed the referee to alert him to the foul play.

Seemingly neither the TMO nor Maxwell-Keys noticed a spit, but focused instead on the stamp. Ward returned after sitting out for 10 minutes, and played until he was substituted nine minutes from time. By that point many had used social media to brandish Ward a ‘coward’ and a ‘disgrace’, including former England fly-half Andy Goode.

‘Absolutely disgusting from Dave Ward. Spitting on a someone then stamping on his ankle, how’s that not a red card?! There’s no place for that in rugby.’

After the match, which Quins won 20-13, Wasps director of rugby Young said he had not seen a spit but did vent his anger at the stamp.

‘There’s no need for that rubbish in the game,’ he said. ‘The game is hard enough without all that nonsense. It was plain to see him walk over and stamp on his ankle. It could have been a red card.’

England full-back Mike Brown was taken out in the air by Josh Bassett but that was unpunished

Steve Diamond will only be investigated for an angry exchange if a formal complaint is made

The unsavoury incident overshadowed another potential act of foul play when England full-back Mike Brown was taken out in the air by Josh Bassett. Replays of Brown landing on his neck were shown across the big screens at Twickenham but referee Maxwell-Keys did not sanction the player after both clubs were consulted.

‘They talk about protecting players but clearly I wasn’t protected there,’ said Brown. ‘He says he couldn’t see but there’s a bloody big screen up there to have a look. I could have ended up with a serious injury. He may not have seen it but my family have seen that. It was a pretty poor call.

‘I’m sure he’ll see it when my family are in hospital because I’ve broken my neck.’

Meanwhile, Sale director of rugby Steve Diamond will only be investigated by the RFU for an angry exchange with a member of the media if a complaint is made.

Diamond asked to speak to the journalist ‘outside’ after the Sharks’ victory at Gloucester on Saturday and is alleged to have grabbed his recording device before the pair had a heated verbal spat. Any charge would relate to bringing the game into disrepute.