Peyper axed after silly pose
WORLD CUP NEWS: World Rugby has announced the match officials for the World Cup 2019 semifinals at International Stadium Yokohama this weekend.
Nigel Owens (Wales) will take charge of England versus New Zealand on Saturday with Romain Poite and Pascal Gaüzère (both France) as assistant referees and Marius Jonker (South Africa) as TMO.
Jérôme Garcès (France) will referee Wales versus South Africa on Sunday with Wayne Barnes (England) and Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand) as assistant referees and Ben Skeen (New Zealand) as TMO.
Meanwhile, World Cup referee Jaco Peyper has apologised for an “inappropriate” photo he had taken with Wales fans following their narrow victory over France, World Rugby said Tuesday.
But the apology was not quite enough as World Rugby confirmed that the South African official was not considered for this weekend’s semifinals in Yokohama.
Jaco Peyper dans un bel hommage à Vahaamahina. Photo de Fabien Heuzé pic.twitter.com/g5vo93413s
— Arnaud Coudry (@ArnaudCoudry) October 20, 2019
Peyper sparked anger after posing for a photo with Wales fans in which he appeared to mimic the elbow that led to Sebastien Vahaamahina’s quarterfinal red card.
The referee dismissed the French lock in Oita on Sunday after video replays showed him smashing his elbow into the face of Welsh flank Aaron Wainwright early in the second half with France leading by nine points.
Vahaamahina’s shocking rush of blood changed the course of the game, letting Wales hit back to win 20-19 and book their place in the last four, where they will face South Africa.
“World Rugby can confirm that the match officials selection committee did not consider Jaco Peyper for selection this weekend,” Rugby Union’s governing body said in a statement.
“Peyper recognises that a picture of him with Wales fans, which appeared on social media after the Wales versus France quarter-final, was inappropriate and he has apologised.”
@WorldRugby & AFP
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