Just Stop Oil protesters disrupted the Gallagher Premiership rugby union final at Twickenham on Saturday, two days after a similar protest at the Chelsea flower show.
Two men invaded the pitch midway through the first half of the match in south-west London between Saracens and Sale, throwing orange paint powder on to the field resulting in a stoppage in play.
Twickenham stadium later confirmed two men had been arrested and that the incident was now a police matter.
Orange powder remained on the field as the match resumed, with Saracens winning the game.
A statement from Just Stop Oil said the men involved in the protest were Dr Patrick Hart, 37, a GP from Bristol, and Sam Johnson, 40, a construction worker from Essex.
The group – which is campaigning to stop all new fossil fuel projects in the UK – said in a statement: “Two Just Stop Oil supporters have disrupted the Gallagher Premiership rugby final.
“They are demanding a halt to any new licences for oil, gas and coal projects in the UK.”
A statement from Twickenham stadium read: “Twickenham stadium can confirm two people have been arrested and this is now a police matter. We would like to thank our stewarding team who acted decisively and swiftly.”
On Thursday, three women were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after demonstrators threw orange paint over a garden at the Chelsea flower show.
The protesters were named by Just Stop Oil as Stephanie Golder, 35, Naomi Goddard, 58, and Rosa Hicks, 28, and the group said the demonstration was part of their fifth week of action in London.
Last month, a Just Stop Oil member poured orange paint on a snooker table during a match between Robert Milkins and Joe Perry at the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield.
A woman was prevented from executing a similar stunt on another table after being apprehended by the referee, Olivier Marteel.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/27/just-stop-oil-protesters-invade-pitch-and-stop-play-at-twickenham-rugby-final
