Maria Beatrice Benvenuti, a rising star from Rome and the youngest international rugby referee globally, has been at the heart of a legal saga culminating in the sentencing of Bruno Andres Doglioli, an Italian-Argentine rugby player.
Doglioli has been handed a one-year-and-two-month sentence for causing injuries to Benvenuti during a contentious match back in December 2016.
The incident occurred during a Serie A (now Serie B) clash between Valsugana and Rangers Vicenza. Video footage captured the severity of the incident as Doglioli forcefully collided with Benvenuti from behind, resulting in a significant impact.
Benvenuti, who was just 23 years old at the time, endured a violent whiplash, leaving her sprawled on the ground in agony.
Initially, Doglioli faced a 36-month disqualification as punishment. However, the Italian Rugby Federation’s appeals court, following the intervention of the federal prosecutor’s office, overturned the decision, leading to Doglioli’s expulsion from the sport.
The legal ramifications continued as Doglioli, now 41 and a long-time resident of France, found himself before the monocratic judge of the Court of Padua, following a formal complaint lodged by Benvenuti for the injuries sustained.
In his defense, Doglioli maintained that his actions were not intentional. He explained (translated), “I was advancing with wide arms against the opponents to tackle them. But I didn’t want to hit the referee.”
The trial has drawn attention not only for its legal intricacies but also for highlighting the challenges faced by referees, particularly in high-stakes matches where emotions can run high.
Every England player ranked from best to worst on their 2024 Six Nations performance
In the opening rounds of the Six Nations, Borthwick’s revamped lineup struggled on the attack, tallying a mere six tries.
However, a remarkable turnaround unfolded as England surged, bagging seven tries against formidable opponents Ireland and France, both ranked second and fourth in the world.
These victories against top-ranked nations highlight substantial progress for the English side.
Below, the squad is meticulously ranked from top-tier performers to those falling short. Among the standout talents, Ben Earl emerges as the epitome of excellence.
| vs Italy | vs Wales | vs Scotland | vs Ireland | vs France | Average rating | |
| Ben Earl | 7 | 8 | 6.5 | 9.5 | 8 | 7.8 |
| George Martin | / | / | 7 | 8.5 | 7.5 | 7.666666667 |
| Ollie Lawrence | / | / | 5.5 | 9 | 8 | 7.5 |
| Marcus Smith | / | / | / | 8 | 6.5 | 7.25 |
| Tommy Freeman | 7.5 | 7.5 | 5.5 | 7 | 8 | 7.1 |
| Alex Mitchell | 6.5 | 7 | / | 7.5 | 7 | 7 |
| Ellis Genge | / | 7 | 5.5 | 7 | 8 | 6.875 |
| Immanuel Feyi-Waboso | 6 | / | 6.5 | 8 | / | 6.833333333 |
| Jamie George | 6 | 7.5 | 6 | 7.5 | 7 | 6.8 |