URC referee pays the price for Munster mare as Nigel Owens’ call for ‘accountability’ is heard

Italian referee Andrea Piardi will not officiate a United Rugby Championship (URC) fixture this weekend after his handling of Munster v Bulls last Saturday.

Piardi was at the centre of the controversy at Thomond Park after he mistakenly reduced Munster to 14 men following injuries to both of the Irish province’s tighthead props.

Starting prop Oli Jager departed the pitch in the first half to undergo an HIA, which he ultimately failed, before his replacement, Stephen Archer, sustained a contact injury early in the second forty.

Piardi dropped after big blunder

This led to uncontested scrums, but in addition, Piardi erroneously ordered Munster to take one of their players from the field of play, which would have been the correct decision had both props sustained contact injuries.

Munster would play the ne...
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