1
Leicester Tigers fans criticised for 'appalling' abuse of referee Mathieu Raynal
By Ian Cameron
A section of the Leicester Tigers support base has been slammed after referee Mathieu Raynal was subjected to verbal abuse as he exited the pitch at halftime during Leicester's crunch Champions Cup match with Munster at Welford Road last night.
It had been a half of rugby in which the home side had conceded significantly more penalties then their Irish counterparts - by a count of eleven penalties to two.
A number of Leicester Tigers fans didn't see it so much as failure of their Tiger's discipline as a failure by Raynal to referee competently, and the French referee was let know all about it as he made his way off the pitch.
In fact, he had to be escorted off the pitch and footage captured the moment some fans took things a little too far.
It was also pointed out by many that the apparent abuse of the referee was at the hands of a small section of the crowd. While this behaviour is standard in Association Football, rugby has long prided itself on being free of this type of incident - largely due to self policing.
Tigers fans are among the Premierships most passionate fans, but results in recent season have seen the former European Champions slipping down both the English and European pecking order.
Raynal was born in Perpignan, France, and played for USA Perpignan and was part of the successful 1998 Junior Perpignan team that won the Junior Championships in France. He joined a local referees society in 2001, while representing the first XV from the University of Perpignan in 2001.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Leinster player ratings vs Munster | 2024/25 URC
3
Jamal Ford-Robinson: 'In the gym we’re not lifting as frequently'
4
Nemani Nadolo: 'Now I cut grass, do gardens, cut hedges for a living'
5
Latest Comments
Yet Ethan Blackadder was one of our best against the World Champion Springbok. When he came back to the Crusaders later in the season , he made a huge difference, ( a long with others like Codie Taylor), we nearly made the Play Off's. Ethan has plenty of rugby left in him. His family , Dad Todd Blackadder must be very [proud of him. Todd Blackadder was a 3 time champion captain of the Crusaders, '98, '99 and 2000.An icon in this area. Also twice captain of Canterbury , '97 and 2001 when we won the NPC and Ranfurly Shield winning captain in 2000.
Go to commentsIt's the same criticism of Dmac and Mo'unga as well. Sadly the way the game has been heading recently it's the only way to break down a defence, and a player of Lawrences nature would have a very limited chance at doing that because he's too one dimensional.
Noah Lolesio is your sort of player and that worked OK, but only because his team is far more creative than Englands for example. The highly organized Irish attack was also another that didn't require much from the 10, but that is now changing with Prendergast who is in that league mold like the most new age 10's.
So it is in fact your two which would require even more change to make the most of than Marcus Smith.
Go to comments