Wales international launches into heated argument with referee amid calls for rule change

Wales Online

17-05-2025

Wales international launches into heated argument with referee amid calls for rule change
Former Bristol Bears man Callum Sheedy protested that he didn't know how long he had to take the kick.
Wales international Callum Sheedy was not happy with the referee's decision.
(Image: PREMIER SPORTS )
Callum Sheedy got into a feisty argument with the referee after a bizarre incident in the United Rugby Championship.
Cardiff were playing DHL Stormers in their final game of the season, and the Welsh region had just scored through Gabriel Hamer-Webb following a fine cross-kick by Sheedy before half time.
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When Sheedy lined up the conversion, he was told by referee Gianluca Gnecchi: "20 seconds now, Callum, 20 seconds."
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The Welsh fly-half asked about a shot clock and Gnecchi confirmed there wasn't one in the stadium. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
As Sheedy eventually set up to take it, Gnecchi told him he had two seconds left, and the fly-half did not make the kick in time.
The referee blew his whistle before the kick had sailed through the uprights, prompting a colourful response from Sheedy.
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He protested with the referee that he thought the official had been checking a late shot on Hamer-Webb from Dave Ewers as the try was scored.
Gnecchi assured Sheedy that the shot clock had already started. "Callum!," he said. "Let me explain. I wasn't checking anything, I was just looking at the screen."
"There's no shot clock," said Sheedy. "So how do I know?"
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"I told you when it was 20," added Gnecchi.
"But there's no shot clock!," said Sheedy. "My process is longer than 20."
Turning to a member of the Cardiff backroom team, Gnecchi added: "Guys, I'll very clear on this so you can report it to your coaching team. There is no shot clock in this stadium.
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"So I said to your player (about) the seconds and he has to copy with that. Guys, we're going to discuss it later because that's the process here."
Sheedy remained visually and verbally frustrated as he protested with the referee but the decision stood.
Pundit Sean Holley called for standardisation across the board in the competition, saying: "Cardiff have lost an easy two points there, it should be a rule in the URC that every stadium is fitted with a shot-clock."
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Unfortunately for Cardiff, their night ended brutally with their play-off hopes extinguished.
Tries from Danny Southworth, Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Harri Millard and Dafydd Hughes supplied hope for the Blue and Blacks, but a last-gasp penalty from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu denied them an extra bonus point.
With Edinburgh beating Ulster, it meant that Matt Sherratt's side could not mathematically finish in the top eight.
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Victory against Stormers would have secured them their first ever play-off appearance in the league, but now they'll have to wait for that opportunity and go again.