Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

'Tom is distraught' - Richards furious at RFU over ref appointment

By Chris Jones
Falcons full back Tom Penny is shown a red card by referee Anthony Woodthorpe (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Newcastle Falcons boss Dean Richards has criticised the Rugby Football Union’s refereeing department for appointing Anthony Woodthorpe to take control of a match that saw fullback Tom Penny sent off for making contact with Wasps Jimmy Gopperth’s eye.

ADVERTISEMENT

Richards’ comments are certain to be examined by the RFU who under their misconduct regulations the Governing body can examine “comments and/or conduct in connection with current and/or anticipated disciplinary proceedings and/or match officiating (or any aspect thereof) which may be prejudicial to and/or impact upon current and/or anticipated disciplinary proceedings and/or which are prejudicial to the interests of the Game and/or any person; or the disciplinary process.”

Newcastle won 18-14 despite having Penny sent off after 55 minutes for making contact with eye of Gopperth. In the fixture last season the same referee missed a gouging incident on Wasps Josh Bassett by Mateo Carrerras with the Argentine centre cited after the game and banned for nine weeks.

Video Spacer

The Journeyman Ollie Phillips on Lomu, Madonna & The Moulin Rouge | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 3

Video Spacer

The Journeyman Ollie Phillips on Lomu, Madonna & The Moulin Rouge | RugbyPass Offload | Episode 3

A clearly frustrated Richards, the Newcastle director of rugby, said: “Tom is distraught in the changing room because he didn’t think anything was deliberate.

“His leg was trapped in by Jimmy Gopperth, and you’ve got to look at who the instigator of the whole thing was. Tom tried to release his leg three times and couldn’t, as he’s stumbling away and breaking free he pushes his face and catches I think his eye. Jimmy makes a meal of it, and if there is contact with the eye then so be it.

“It wasn’t deliberate, and you have to look at who the protagonist is. It’s clearly Jimmy Gopperth, and why should our boy get penalised for being held in at a ruck?

“It’s the same official we had against Wasps last year when he missed the Josh Bassett incident, and he wasn’t going to miss anything today. We were expecting a little bit of something today, and I’m surprised the refereeing department put him on this game if I’m totally honest about it.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It was a big story last season and we were totally surprised (he was appointed) and you have to beg the question why did they do that?”

Richard’s view of the referee was not helped by a yellow card handed to Wasps Vaea Fifita for a high tackle that he felt deserved a red.” We all thought it was a red card but he was never going to give two red cards in the game.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby? Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?
Search