ARGENTINA PLAYER WHO SHOVED REFEREE BANNED FOR FOUR MATCHES

Tomás Albornoz, the Argentina fly-half, has been suspended for four matches after admitting “intimidatory” misconduct in exchanges with Angus Gardner, the referee, during his side’s 31-24 defeat by England last month.

Albornoz appeared to make contact with Gardner at the end of the match to dispute his decision to deny Argentina a try that could have led to the Nations Championship match ending in a draw.

Albornoz, 28, who plays for Toulon, admitted during an independent hearing that his overall conduct had been intimidatory but denied that his actions were “abusive, insulting, offensive or threatening”. That distinction was accepted by both World Rugby and the committee.

“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,” said World Rugby in a statement. “The committee also noted that Albornoz approached the referee on two separate occasions and had to be restrained by team-mates.”

Albornoz will now miss Argentina’s Test matches against South Africa on Saturday, Australia (on August 29 and September 5) as well as Toulon’s match against La Rochelle on September 12.

“In determining sanction, the committee accepted that the contact with the referee, while limited, occurred in the context of disputing a match official’s decision and formed part of an overall course of intimidatory conduct,” added the World Rugby statement. “The committee considered that aspect of the misconduct comparable to the low-end entry point for contact with a match official under Appendix 1 to Regulation 17, which carries a six-match suspension.

“Taking into account Albornoz’s early acceptance of the charge, his undertakings to issue public and private written apologies, and his previously clear disciplinary record, the committee accepted that a four-match suspension was appropriate.”

Will Greenwood

That England vs Argentina match was everything I hate about modern rugby

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2026-08-05T16:55:40Z