In one of the most extraordinary moments ever witnessed in professional rugby, referee Anthony Woodthorpe made sporting history during the heated Premiership encounter between Exeter Chiefs and Leicester Tigers at Sandy Park.
The Incident That Stopped the Game
The unprecedented situation unfolded during the second half of Saturday's intense match when Woodthorpe, positioned dangerously close to play, found himself accidentally taken out by Exeter's Ross Vintcent. The collision sent the official tumbling to the ground in a moment that left both teams and spectators in stunned silence.
"I've never seen anything like it in thirty years of watching rugby," one veteran spectator was heard remarking as medical staff rushed to attend the fallen referee.
Self-Administered Justice
After receiving treatment and regaining his composure, Woodthorpe made the remarkable decision to issue himself a red card for his positioning error. The official was heard telling players, "I have to go, my positioning was wrong and I interfered with play."
The decision prompted immediate replacement by assistant referee Jack Makepeace, who took over officiating duties for the remainder of the match.
Reactions from the Rugby World
Former England international Ugo Monye expressed his astonishment, stating: "This is absolutely unprecedented. We've seen referees make controversial calls, but never one who effectively sent himself off. It shows incredible integrity but also raises questions about referee positioning."
Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Wigglesworth commented: "While we've never seen this before, Anthony handled the situation with remarkable professionalism. His honesty, while unusual, deserves respect."
What This Means for Rugby
- First recorded instance of a referee effectively dismissing themselves
- Raises important questions about official positioning during open play
- Demonstrates extreme accountability at professional level
- Potential for RFU review of referee protocols
The incident, while ending in a 26-17 victory for Exeter Chiefs, will be remembered not for the final score but for the moment a referee took ultimate responsibility for his positioning error in the most dramatic fashion imaginable.
