Tomás Albornoz, the Argentina fly-half, has been handed a four-match ban for intimidating the referee after England's controversial victory over the Pumas last month.
The 27-year-old accepted allegations of misconduct at a disciplinary hearing, acknowledging that his behaviour was intimidatory. He will miss Argentina's Test against South Africa on Saturday, as well as their forthcoming double header with Australia and a Toulon fixture.
Incident and Disciplinary Findings
The disciplinary committee noted that Albornoz made contact with referee Angus Gardner, approaching the Australian official on two occasions and having to be restrained by teammates. The incident occurred after Argentina were denied a last-gasp try against England, which would have given Albornoz a conversion attempt to draw the match, following a lengthy discussion between Gardner and television match official Brett Cronan.
Argentina felt they should have been awarded a penalty try, regardless of whether Bautista Delguy grounded the ball legally, due to high tackles by Noah Calouri and Henry Slade as the winger went for the line. Gardner's decision to disallow the try ensured England won 31-24 in Santiago del Estero, providing relief for head coach Steve Borthwick.
Ban Details and Context
While Albornoz accepted his actions amounted to intimidation, he denied that his behaviour was abusive, insulting, offensive, or threatening. World Rugby and the disciplinary committee agreed, determining the actions were comparable to the low-end entry point for contact with a match official, which carries a six-match suspension. The committee decided a four-match ban was more appropriate, considering Albornoz's early acceptance of the charge, his undertakings to issue public and private written apologies, and his previously clear disciplinary record.
Gardner will referee the third Test of South Africa's forthcoming four-match series against New Zealand.
World Rugby Statement
World Rugby said in a statement: "Tomás Albornoz has been suspended for four matches after admitting misconduct arising from interactions with match officials following Argentina’s Nations Championship match against England on 18 July. In determining misconduct under regulation 18, the disciplinary committee noted that the Argentina fly-half accepted the misconduct allegations. In particular, he accepted that his conduct, taken as a whole, was intimidatory."
The statement added: "The committee accepted that contact with referee Angus Gardner, although limited in nature, occurred while disputing a match official’s decision and formed part of that overall course of intimidatory conduct. The committee also noted that Albornoz approached the referee on two separate occasions and had to be restrained by teammates."
