Lions Forward Escapes Sanction for Controversial Tackle
In a contentious decision, Lions forward Willem Alberts has avoided any disciplinary action for his “swinging arm” tackle that left Cardiff scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou with multiple facial fractures and a concussion during their recent United Rugby Championship (URC) clash.
Incident and Aftermath
The incident occurred in Round 16 of the URC tournament at Emirates Airline Park, where Bertranou was forced off the pitch due to the impact of Alberts’ dangerous tackle. Despite Cardiff lodging a citing complaint, the URC dismissed it, stating that the incident was not “clear and obvious.”
However, damning video evidence shared on social media has left rugby fans questioning the URC’s decision, with many expressing their disbelief at the lack of sanction for Alberts. The video clearly shows the referee looking directly at the incident, yet the TMO (Television Match Official) did not review it, leading to the URC’s controversial ruling.
Reactions and Criticism
“I don’t usually say this but I wasn’t very happy with the action that led to the injury. It looked like a swinging arm [and] we’ve gone through the right channels with it. It was never going to be clear and obvious but I was gutted for him because it was a nasty injury.”
- Matt Sherratt, Cardiff Head Coach
The player welfare group Progressive Rugby also weighed in, describing the incident as a “reckless swinging arm” that resulted in “a significant facial injury and concussion to a player,” and called it a “terrible look” for the competition.
Journalist Ben James echoed these sentiments, stating that he still cannot understand how the URC did not issue a citing for the incident, despite watching the footage multiple times.
The Lions went on to claim a 34-13 victory over Cardiff, scoring a try shortly after Bertranou’s forced departure from the field. This controversial decision by the URC has once again raised questions about player safety and the consistency of officiating in the rugby union.
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