Rugby: Red card World Cup ref defends decision

Wale's captain Sam Warburton and his infamous tackle on Vincent Clerc. Photo / Greg Bowker

Referee Alain Rolland has defended his decision to send off Wales captain Sam Warburton in last month's World Cup semi-final.

Rolland, an Irishman of French ancestry, caused outrage among Wales supporters after issuing Warburton with a straight red card for a "tip tackle'' on Vincent Clerc just 18 minutes into the 9-8 defeat by France at Eden Park.

He was heavily criticised for the decision, though International Rugby Board directives indicated he was within his rights to dismiss Warburton.

Warburton took some of the sting out of the controversy by later admitting he deserved to be sent off, and Rolland said he would take the same course of action if placed in a similar position.

"If I had to do it all over again I would do the same thing,' he told the Western Mail in Wales. "I don't think it needs to be vindicated full stop. The important part for referees, no matter what sport it is, is to take the emotion out of it.

"We can only officiate on the action itself and what he did merited what happened next because it was dangerous.

"Did he mean to do it? Was it intentional or unintentional?

"We don't officiate on intention, we officiate on the action itself.

"Unfortunately, what had happened gave me no option but to do what I did.

"Any time you make a decision, 50 per cent of the people think it is a great call and 50 per cent of the people say 'How did he come to that decision?'. That is just the way it is.''

He added: "The thing you have to remember is that straight after the game there was huge emotion everywhere, which is understandable.

"But in time, maybe in 10 or 15 years, it might calm itself down.''

Rolland praised Warburton for admitting recently that he deserved to be sent off.

"I think it is a true measure of the man he is,'' he said.