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The former Test referee has had his say after Argentina sparked outrage with their behaviour against England
06:00, 25 Jul 2026
I really enjoyed watching the first run of Nations Championship fixtures. There were some really high-quality games there, Ireland v Australia, New Zealand v France. Some of the rugby on show has been absolutely superb.
The big thing is there’s something riding on these games, and it’s all building to the finals weekend later in the year. When there is a meaningful prize at the end, it makes a big difference.
You look at PREM Rugby, for example, and now there is no relegation, there are a lot of high-scoring, one-sided games because some teams have nothing to play for. Having something to fight for only adds to the occasion and atmosphere, and it adds a bit of niggle and grit on the field too.
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The only downside to the whole thing, I suppose, is the fact that games are being played all over the place. I was speaking to some English fans the other day and while they usually like to travel out to watch the summer tour games, the travel and costs associated have made it impossible for them.
Of course, with more riding on the games than a standard friendly, it was perhaps no surprise that we saw tensions boil over during England’s clash with Argentina in the final round last weekend.
It was always going to be a difficult game, what with the history between the two countries, while it was played just days after they met at the FIFA World Cup in a match that also ended in controversial circumstances.
I refereed England v Argentina at the 2019 Rugby World Cup and there is always an edge to the fixture. It can be a difficult one to referee.
As expected then, there was plenty of niggle throughout the game in Santiago del Estero and seven yellow cards were handed out, but it all turned very unsavoury at the full-time whistle after Argentina were denied a last-gasp try by the TMO.
The try, if converted, would have seen the Pumas tie the game and with the match decided by such fine margins, it is understandable that their players and coaching staff were emotional.
However, what followed was totally unacceptable. After bringing the game to a close, referee Angus Gardner was confronted by Tomas Albornoz, the Argentina fly-half, who made contact with the official as he protested the late decision.
Other players were reportedly having to be held back from confronting Angus, who was also targeted with items thrown from the crowd as he made his way off the field.
We can debate the actual decision to disallow the try all we want, but what is not acceptable is how Angus was treated in those moments. Players running up and grabbing the referee is not something we want to see in rugby.
Of course, while the laws of the game say players should not make contact with officials, it is all about context. I’ve refereed games in the past when players have put their hand on my shoulder or put their arm around me when I’ve been explaining decisions, and that’s fine. That’s just natural. I’ve done the same with players myself very often.
But when, as there was in the case of Albornoz, there is an element of confrontation and anger with it, it is not an acceptable thing to see on the rugby field. The same can be said for how the crowd behaved towards the referee as he walked off the field – it is totally, totally unacceptable to throw things at match officials.
What happened needs to be dealt with fairly but firmly by World Rugby. It has been good to see the governing body charge Albornoz with misconduct under their new match official abuse sanction process to deal with public criticism of referees, through which Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada has already picked up an automatic two-match ban.
A coach having a go at decisions after games can inflame situations and contribute to ongoing abuse of referees, whether that’s on the field or online. There is so much abuse directed towards officials these days, so bringing in measures like this is a positive move.
Just as coaches and players make mistakes, referees get things wrong too. Don’t get me wrong, there has to be an avenue for players and coaches to ask questions about decisions, but it has to be done in an appropriate manner and through the proper channels. They can’t let their frustration get the better of them after matches.
Argentina, as a side, can get very agitated when decisions don’t go their way. I remember at the end of the England v Argentina World Cup game I refereed, I sent off their second row, Tomas Lavanini. At the end of the game, their captain, Pablo Matera, complained that I treated them differently to other countries and refused to shake my hand.
That sort of reaction is nothing new then, not for Argentina nor any team in the world, really. But we cannot allow situations to cross the line and, when they do, they must be dealt with appropriately.
We all saw the disgraceful scenes that erupted at the end of the football World Cup final, with Argentina players seen striking Spanish players and throwing them to the ground.
Rugby cannot take the moral high ground and think it’s above any other sport, but I’d like to think that incidents of unacceptable behaviour like that would be dealt with in a way that would see it well and truly stamped out of the game we all love.
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