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Referee Angus Gardner has withdrawn from the South Africa vs Ireland series

Angus Gardner and Rhys Ruddock

Australian official Angus Gardner has withdrawn from refereeing duties during the South Africa versus Ireland series for ‘personal reasons’.

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He will be replaced by England’s Luke Pearce as match day referee for the first Test at Loftus Versfeld on July 6th and as AR for the second Test at the Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban the following weekend.

A World Rugby statement on the matter reads: “World Rugby has confirmed that Angus Gardner (Australia) has withdrawn from officiating duties for the two-test series between South Africa and Ireland for personal reasons. The Australian will be replaced by Luke Pearce (England) as referee for the first test and also as assistant referee for the second test.

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A bitterly disappointed Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White produces a few post-match pearlers

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A bitterly disappointed Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White produces a few post-match pearlers

“As a consequence of the change, there are also further amendments to the appointments, including Christophe Ridley (England), replacing Pearce as assistant referee for Japan v Georgia on 13 July.”

Gardner began officiating in Super Rugby in 2012. Gardner made his Test debut in 2011, officiating a match between Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. He has since refereed numerous international matches, including fixtures in the Rugby Championship and Six Nations. Gardner was named World Rugby Referee of the Year in 2018. He has officiated at three Rugby World Cups, in 2015, 2019 and 2023.

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Comments

35 Comments
B
Bull Shark 377 days ago

Do we know what his “personal reasons” are or are we going to leave it to the tinfoil hat, conspiracy theorists, in the peanut gallery to have a field day with this?

S
Sebastien 377 days ago

Another victim of Erasmus and stupid sa fans. Shame on World Rugby to not protect the refs.

N
Nico 375 days ago

Look into the mirror mate. DuPont and people like you still attacks him daily

B
Bull Shark 377 days ago

🥜🧌

F
FC 377 days ago

Another victim of his own cowardice. He must have French ancestry.

D
Dan 378 days ago

Gardner is a terrible ref - as most or the SH ones clearly have no clue about the sport. Much like the SH players


Rassie has to hope Barnes comes back though. Let his iferrior team triumph again with Wayne’s incompetence at the forefront.

F
FC 377 days ago

Rassie doesnt hope, he plans and innovates.

Something it seems only he seems to have the capacity for.

Everyone else, to this point, has jus FOLLOWED.

J
Jan 378 days ago

You sad, sad little person …

M
Mal 379 days ago

Nick Berry would have been a perfect replacement 👌

S
Sebastien 377 days ago

But he IS scared of Erasmus and stupid sa fans.

M
Michael 379 days ago

Angus Gardener is , in my opinion, easily the best of R.U refs currently officiating. He is positive, explains his decisions ,& rarely exercises the use of cards , however uses the 3rd umpire judiciously, to ensure fairness on the field of play . He is not overbearing , or as some comment herein , displaying himself as some Greek God , like some esteemed whistle blowers do ..

F
Flankly 379 days ago

It is utterly amazing that WR would have proposed Gardner as a ref and AR for these games. And it is very wise for Gardner to decline. He would want to avoid the re-litigation of the allegations in the Rassie tape.


Luke Pearce is the guy with the decisive “I am in charge” brand. My sense is that he struggles to avoid his preconceptions of the teams.

D
David 379 days ago

And your point?

B
Barry 380 days ago

Rassie dassie has a video up on YouTube!?

W
Willie 380 days ago

Based on his last performance in super rugby, Angus seems to think the crowd turns up to watch him. He should take the opportunity to re-evaluate the role of a referee.

Luke Pearce is a good replacement, especially in SA.

S
SS 311 days ago

Why "especially in SA"? Shouldn't any international ref be able to officiate a game?

D
David 380 days ago

oi…shut your face.

T
Tania 380 days ago

He should have the guts to tell his TMO “No”

M
Matt Perry 380 days ago

I wouldn't want to referee a South Africa game that they have a chance of losing, either.

F
FC 377 days ago

You’re confusing South Africans with French fans.

The FRENCH fans are the ones who threaten opposition players and their families.

N
Nico 380 days ago

That's pretty rich coming from an Englishman considering how you guys abused the ref for the scrum penalty in the semi. And not even mentioning how France and DuPont is still complaining. And how Foster is not even all black coach anymore and is still mentioning the referee in the media every month half a year after the final

A
Andrew 380 days ago

Doesn't want a PK from supporters if pulls a Nic Berry, lol.

B
BK 380 days ago

At least they didn’t give Berry the whistle. Pearce is great!

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H
Hellhound 45 minutes ago
Junior Springboks underline U20 title credentials in devastating display vs Scotland

The junior Bokkies is really doing very well, underlining the strength and depth in the SA rugby system. Who will snatch these players up? My worries is that there is just not enough professional teams that compete internationally, and most of these players might be lost to other leagues/countries in the future.

SARU needs to add more teams to the Currie Cup, maybe rebrand the competition. SA have as much, if not more talent than the French. We could easily supply about 14 teams, who could be very competitive with all the young talent coming through, others who might come back. The biggest problem SA rugby have, is money. The club's just don't have money and SARU holds the keys. SA needs investment, but that won't happen unless more teams, or a new system is brought forth. With the right investors, the club scene will make a lot of money. I would look towards the IPL franchise owners or the UAE. They have the money to grow the sport, build new stadiums etc. With 44 African countries, one or two teams per country could easily made up to 4 or 5 tiers of rugby competitions. Even if those countries play their national teams in the local club competition. It would help African rugby too, facing teams like the Bulls and Sharks etc. on a regular basis. Africa is untapped potential. There is big room for improvement. Currently SA is in a bubble or Island of their own on the African continent. Money is available from the right investors if they actually do proper marketing and get businesses or mine owners involved in sponsoring teams. Yes there is a lot of red tape, but creating a league the size of the French clubs scene could easily be achieved. There is more than enough very good players available, however no funds is available currently. There is certainly more than enough African billionaires around to be able to create a league like that. Many countries are currently diluting the SA talent, snapping them up young, offering what SA can't. Money. How many of these young stars will go on to represent a provincial team or the Boks? How many will find it so difficult to make a career of rugby and leave the sport? How many have been lost? With WR favouring the Northern Hemisphere, ignoring the Southern Hemisphere despite the South being the strongest throughout history (9 WC trophies compared to 1) they are pouring money into the NH leaving the SH to struggle for money and that's what you get. Weak local competitions like the Currie Cup. The attraction to watch the league? Same as playing rugby in your backyard.

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