Rugby-Rugby Australia want 'accountability' on late call in Lions test
Hugo Keenan's last-minute try gave the Lions a 29-26 win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground but the Irish fullback only scored after Jac Morgan had cleared out Carlo Tizzano in a ruck in the buildup.
The Wallabies wanted a penalty for high contact but Piardi allowed the try to stand, a decision slammed by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt in his post-match press conference as contrary to World Rugby's campaign to improve player safety.
"Joe's comments at the press conference were 100% aligned with mine as a CEO and a former Wallaby," Waugh told the Sydney Morning Herald.
"Our position on that particular decision is consistent to what Joe outlined in his analysis of that last breakdown.
"Clearly there'll be the usual process, which is what happens after every test match, and we'll certainly be looking for a level of accountability from World Rugby over the next period of time."
Waugh will not have to go far to air his views with senior World Rugby officials in Sydney this week for events looking forward to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Saturday's victory gave the Lions an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series ahead of the third and final test at Sydney's Stadium Australia this weekend.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Rugby-World Rugby chief says franchise leagues need to allow test availability
SYDNEY (Reuters) -Test rugby remains the pinnacle of the game and any franchise league that does not offer players the chance to play it is unlikely to attract top talent, World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin warned on Tuesday. The R360 global franchise league, which is fronted by former England centre Mike Tindall, is scheduled to launch in 2026 and media reports have linked it with big-money offers for top rugby union and league players. Gilpin said he was open to dialogue with R360 and that World Rugby welcomed any investment into the sport as long as it created a more financially sustainable game for players and the "wider ecosystem". "Our position is whatever competitions arise, we know players want to play international rugby," he told reporters at the launch of the ticketing programme for the 2027 World Cup. "It's not true of every sport, but in our sport, the international game is the pinnacle of the game. "We've got a really quite tricky calendar in global rugby, so it's really important that whatever is getting endorsed and invested in gives players that opportunity. "And I think anything that doesn't give players that opportunity, players will vote with their feet on it." World Rugby's Regulation 9 enforces the release of players for test rugby from any recognised competition and Gilpin said the governing body would continue to insist on their availability for all international windows. That would include men's and women's British & Irish Lions tours, both Rugby World Cups and the Sevens competition at the Olympic Games. "Whatever new concepts, whether it's R360 or otherwise, that are being discussed with players ... that whole concept of player release for defined international windows in our sport is key," he said. "We've got to make sure that whatever competitions players are going to go and play in, they can play in those big moments because they want to. And the fans ... want that." (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, Editing by Peter Rutherford)
The Star
4 hours ago
- The Star
Rugby-World Rugby back match officials over Lions clear-out decision
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup Tournament Opening Press Conference - Roland Garros, Paris, France - September 4, 2023 World Rugby CEO, Alan Gilpin during the press conference REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/File Photo SYDNEY (Reuters) -World Rugby chief Alan Gilpin has backed the match officials involved in last weekend's second test between Australia and the British & Irish Lions and said it was disappointing the governing body's commitment to player welfare had been questioned. The Lions won the test and clinched the series with a try from Hugo Keenan in the final seconds but the Wallabies were upset about a ruling from referee Andrea Piardi over a clear-out at a ruck immediately beforehand. Australia coach Joe Schmidt said the decision not to penalise Lions flanker Jac Morgan for high contact was an error and Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh said he would be seeking "accountability" from World Rugby over it. "Given the nature of the commentary surrounding last weekend, we just want to express our support for the team of match officials involved," Gilpin told reporters at the launch of the ticketing programme for the 2027 World Cup on Tuesday. "There is no other position on the field that is under the scrutiny that our match officials are under, and yet they do an incredible job under that incredible pressure in a very live environment. "I think it's disappointing when the reaction is one of this means player welfare is not taken seriously, because I think we've worked really, really hard on that narrative. Everyone knows we're putting player welfare in its broadest sense at the top of the agenda." A fuming Schmidt said at his post-match press conference that the decision called into question the commitment to player safety, but Gilpin said the New Zealander was unlikely to face disciplinary charges. "The Wallabies had a chance to win an amazing test match," he added. "We understand the emotion involved in that. I think Joe's comments have continued to respect the fact that the match officials have got a tough job to do. "He might disagree with the decisions that were made, but I don't think he's called the integrity of our match officials into question." Gilpin said World Rugby were undertaking their normal review of the refereeing decisions made in the match after consultation with Wallabies and Lions management, but the results would not be made public. "We do share with Joe and the coaching team why the match officials made that decision," he said. "Joe's got a view about what was wrong with that decision and there'll be a debate so that Joe and his players can go into the next test understanding how that game's going to be officiated." Gilpin said the nature of rugby meant it was inevitable that there would be disagreements over decisions but he called for such debates to be carried out respectfully. "We all know that the breakdown is such a complex area to officiate, so they've gone through their process," he said. "When the onfield decision is try, and it's referred to the TMO (Television Match Official), then there needs to be something really clear and obvious to change that. And they didn't feel there was." The third and final test in the series takes place at Sydney's Stadium Australia on Saturday. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford)
The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Rugby-Rugby Australia want 'accountability' on late call in Lions test
SYDNEY (Reuters) -Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh said he would seek an explanation from World Rugby on the late call by referee Andrea Piardi that ultimately decided the match and the series in the second test against the British & Irish Lions. Hugo Keenan's last-minute try gave the Lions a 29-26 win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground but the Irish fullback only scored after Jac Morgan had cleared out Carlo Tizzano in a ruck in the buildup. The Wallabies wanted a penalty for high contact but Piardi allowed the try to stand, a decision slammed by Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt in his post-match press conference as contrary to World Rugby's campaign to improve player safety. "Joe's comments at the press conference were 100% aligned with mine as a CEO and a former Wallaby," Waugh told the Sydney Morning Herald. "Our position on that particular decision is consistent to what Joe outlined in his analysis of that last breakdown. "Clearly there'll be the usual process, which is what happens after every test match, and we'll certainly be looking for a level of accountability from World Rugby over the next period of time." Waugh will not have to go far to air his views with senior World Rugby officials in Sydney this week for events looking forward to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Saturday's victory gave the Lions an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series ahead of the third and final test at Sydney's Stadium Australia this weekend. (Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford)
