Referee set to retire following Hansen’s stinging criticism

NEWS: Irish referee Chris Busby is set to confirm his shock decision to retire from the professional game.

Busby’s decision comes in the wake of the case involving Mack Hansen’s stinging criticism of Busby and his fellow officials following Connacht’s United Rugby Championship defeat to Leinster on December 21, 2024.

Hansen received a six-week ban (with three of those weeks suspended) after an independent disciplinary panel upheld a charge of misconduct.

Those comments included significant criticism of the referee officiating at that match. Busby was the referee in that game.

Connacht’s Mack Hansen shoots from the lip when coach Pete Wilkins is asked about some of the officiating decisions in their loss to Leinster

“We never get any calls, ever … it’s bullshit and it’s starting to get really frustrating”

Story to come on ⁦@ExaminerSport⁩ pic.twitter.com/MnAWu3PbNU

— Brendan O’Brien (@byBrendanOBrien) December 21, 2024

Busby is viewed as one of the top prospects in international refereeing but speculation is rife that he will step away from the professional game in the near future.

Busby is set to feature as an assistant referee for two upcoming Six Nations matches.

Hansen in large part accepted that his actions amounted to misconduct and apologised for his actions.