The protest meant the match between Saracens and Sale at Twickenham was stopped for around five minutes.

Two male Just Stop Oil demonstrators, who are calling on the government to halt new fossil fuel licensing and production, ran on to the pitch 15 minutes into the game against a chorus of boos from the crowd.

Stewards removed them from the pitch, with one tackling a protester to the delight of spectators.

Orange powder remained on the field as the match resumed.

The Met Police has said two men were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage after the pitch invasion. They were taken into custody.

GP says protest 'my duty as a doctor'

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.

Dr Hart said in a statement released by Just Stop Oil: "I am doing this because it's my duty as a doctor.

"The climate crisis is the greatest health crisis humanity has ever faced.

"People are dying now and more will die every day unless we stop new oil, gas and coal."

Mr Johnson added: "I took action today simply because we have run out of time.

"We've got to tackle this now. We have known for longer than I've been alive what would happen if we kept burning fossils fuels and now we are seeing this catastrophe unfold in real time.

"The whole world knows that licensing new fossil fuel projects in 2023 will cause the deaths of millions of people."

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."

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Recent spate of Just Stop Oil action

It comes days after Just Stop Oil protesters chucked orange powder paint over a garden at the Chelsea Flower Show in London.

Three people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage in relation to the incident, Metropolitan Police said.

In April, a Just Stop Oil demonstrator released orange powder on to a snooker table at the world championships.

Since the campaign launched on 14 February 2022, there have been over 2,100 related arrests and 138 people have spent time in prison, the group has said.

Two of the group's supporters, Morgan Trowland and Marcus Decker, are serving three-year prison sentences over a protest that the closed the Dartford Crossing for two days last October.