Referee slammed for shambolic player care after Jack Nowell incident
Rugby NewsSunday, 13 February 2022 at 15:52
The England medical team has come under fire for the second time in a few days after they failed to withdraw Jack Nowell following a head injury.
Failing to give the independent Doctors enough time to investigate the knock, referee Damon Murphy and the England medical team initially allowed the Exeter Chiefs man to carry on.
The 28-year-old did eventually leave the field a few minutes later and subsequently didn't return after failing his HIA.
This led to some fury on social media regarding player welfare.
Friday nights U20s Six Nations game between England and Italy also ended in controversy, with England's team doctors coming under fire for their response to a potential concussion.
With England losing in the dying moments of the game, wing Deago Bailey leapt for the ball and landed awkwardly, with his head hitting the pitch at speed. The response of the England doctors to the incident was poor, as they attempted to argue that he did not need a HIA.
Incredibly, the team doctors initially refused the request and again asserted that Bailey was fit to continue for the final three minutes of the game. Upon being told that the instruction for a HIA had come from an independent match doctor, one of the England medical team responded, "I am a doctor though."
It must be said that referee Aurelie Groizeleau deserves enormous credit for just taking the appropriate action under the unreasonable pressure from the English medical team.
Brilliantly summed up by a thread from Rugby World writer Sam Larner, England legend Steve Thompson was shocked at what had gone on. Check out the full thread here.
Thompson wrote: "Sam this thread is so well done. Thank you. We just want players to be looked after by those who's job it is to do so. The ref was brilliant in this situation."
The 2003 World Cup-winner has pledged to donate his brain as part of a new initiative backed by the Jeff Astle Foundation.
Thompson—who cannot remember playing in the final final win over Australia —revealed last year that he had been diagnosed with early onset dementia at the age of 42.
He is part of a group of players currently suing the Rugby Football Union for negligence following a career that came part and parcel with frequent head injuries at games and in training.
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LIST: Fans rank the 5 best rugby referees in the world
5. Angus Gardner (Australia)
As a teenager, he was a keen rugby player until he was diagnosed with Scheuermann's Disease [a hereditary disc condition].
Gardner refereed his first international match in 2011, taking charge of Papua New Guinea vs Vanuatu. A year later he refereed his first Super Rugby fixture, Queensland Reds vs Melbourne Rebels.
In 2018, he refereed the Super Rugby final, and the same year he went on to win World Rugby's Referee of the Year award.
Referee, Angus Gardner checks with the TMO before giving England the victory during the Quilter International Match between England and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium, Richmond, London on November 3. - PHOTO: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#4. Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Generally a safe pair of hands, the South African is an experienced referee who seems to have a good rapport with players. He also likes to keep the game flowing, something that fans do appreciate.
He was chosen to officiate in both the 2015 and the 2019 Rugby World Cups.
Outside of rugby, he is a trained lawyer and he and his wife Zenobia have two children together.
Referee, Jaco Peyper watches the TMO for a potential shoulder charge during the Autumn Nations Match between England and Australia at Twickenham on 13 November 2021. Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK
#3. Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Arguably the best scrummaging referee out there, O'Keeffe can count himself as one of the game’s most underrated referees. He was the youngest referee at the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, taking his bow at Australia v Fiji at the Sapporo Dome.
O’Keeffe also has a career away from rugby, explaining in 2019: “Certainly, no one can question my eyesight. I’m an Ophthalmologist. I’ve been lucky enough to balance both careers over the last couple of years as being a professional referee has become a full-time commitment.” Dr O’Keeffe co-founded oDocs Eye Care.
DID YOU KNOW? O'Keeffe's brother, Michael O'Keeffe, represented New Zealand at the 2012 London Olympics in football.
Referee, Ben O'Keeffe watches the TMO for a tackle against George North of Wales during the Guinness Six Nations Match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on March 7 2020. - PHOTO: Cameron Geran/PPAUK
#2. Wayne Barnes (England)
Possessing a strong character, Barnes had the courage to send off Dylan Hartley during the 2013 Premiership final, and is not willing to accept negativity from players posturing for penalties.
Barnes will edge closer to a century of international referee appointments when he takes the whistle for Scotland’s trip to Dublin in Round 5 of the 2022 Six Nations – which will be his 98th Test match and his 16th in the Championship.
The whistleblower also works part time as a barrister. He said of his weekly schedule: “On Monday and Tuesday we’ll do reviews and training as a referees group. On Wednesday I try to be in the chambers in town most of the time. Then it depends what the weekend is looking like.
"If it’s a Premiership game, I’ll likely be in chambers on Thursday too; if it’s a European week I’ll probably be travelling. It’s important to get away from rugby at times and this (being a barrister) is a good way to switch off.”
Referee, Wayne Barnes during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Bristol Bears and Bath Rugby at Ashton Gate on 29 Jan. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
#1. Luke Pearce (England)
Pearce was just 21 when he refereed in the RFU Championship in 2009, and has continuously progressed since. Rising through the ranks of the English, European, and world system of rugby refereeing. So far, the Welsh-born but very English official has overseen 29 international fixtures from the centre of the pitch.
One fan said: "Luke is most consistent I reckon. Takes his time sometimes but I don’t mind as I get extra trips to the beer fridge and tactical pee brakes."
Another said: "Pearce has been the best referee for the last year or two. Every international he has got has been big and he has refereed them all well. I'm interested to see what others think as well, so comment below with your suggestion!
DID YOU KNOW? The Premiership official even captained the Welsh Exiles Under-16s and counts Neil Jenkins as his favourite player of all time.
Referee, Luke Pearce during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby Match between Harlequins and Wasps at The Stoop, Twickenham on 28 Sept. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK/Gallagher.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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