Argentina flyhalf Tomás Albornoz will miss Saturday’s Test against the Springboks in Buenos Aires after being suspended for confronting referee Angus Gardner.
The 28-year-old has copped a four-match ban for the incident which followed a 31-24 Nations Championship defeat against England in Santiago del Estero.
Los Pumas made a desperate attempt at a comeback in the closing minutes of the loss, but Gardner, after prolonged consultation with the TMO, disallowed a late try by Bautista Delguy that would have led to a conversion that could have secured a draw for Argentina.
Flyhalf Albornoz had to be physically restrained by a coaching staff member and then a teammate as he remonstrated with the referee and threw the ball into the ground after the final whistle.
ALSO: Nigel slams ref ‘abuse’ in Argentina
A World Rugby statement issued on Wednesday said a disciplinary committee found Albornoz “accepted his conduct, taken as a whole, was intimidatory”.
The committee said the contact with the referee, while limited, occurred in the context of disputing a match official’s decision and formed part of an overall course of intimidatory conduct.
Albornoz’s early acceptance of the charge, his undertakings to issue public and private written apologies, and his previously clear disciplinary record, led the committee to impose a four-match suspension.
Albornoz will now miss Argentina’s clash against the Boks on 8 August and two Tests with the Wallabies on 29 August and 5 September.
He has also been banned from French side Toulon’s match against La Rochelle on 12 September.
TOMÁS ALBORNOZ citado por World Rugby
El apertura de Los Pumas acusado de “mala conducta” en el procedimiento por abuso de árbitros
Regla 18 – Código de conducta
Cada vez que veo la última jugada es más inentendible la decisión de A.Gardner & B.Cronan pic.twitter.com/JcBjbjkwbo
— Fran Capizzi
(@Fran_Capizzi) July 22, 2026
– AFP
The post Los Pumas flyhalf banned for intimidating ref appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Argentina flyhalf Tomás Albornoz will miss Saturday’s Test against the Springboks in Buenos Aires after being suspended for confronting referee Angus Gardner.
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