World Rugby chief returns serve at Schmidt over MCG criticism

World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin has expressed disappointment at criticism from Joe Schmidt, and others, over the governing body’s commitment to player welfare after the MCG ‘no penalty’ controversy, but said the Wallabies coach would not face disciplinary consequences for his post-game comments.

The World Rugby chief executive and chair Brett Robinson were in Sydney on Tuesday to launch the ticket program for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, but the pair were forced to address the still-burning saga around referee Andrea Piardi’s decision to not award a penalty to Australia in the dying moments of the second Test against the Lions.

The Lions scored on the next play to win the game and the series, and Schmidt came out swinging, saying Jac Morgan should have been penalised for hitting Carlo Tizzano on the neck and arguing the decision “doesn’t really live up to the big player safety push that they [World Rugby] are talking about.”

After RA boss Phil Waugh said it would seek “accountability” from WR, Gilpin said a review process with WR referee bosses, RA and the Lions would be finalised by Wednesday. World Rugby will deliver the findings to the teams, but not make it public, Gilpin said.

Part of the reasoning behind keeping the findings private, Gilpin said, was to protect Piardi and the match officials, given online abuse has in recent years had mental health consequences for referees, and even seen their families threatened.

Asked for his reaction to the global debate about Piardi’s decision, Gilpin said: “I think it is disappointing when the reaction is one of, ‘This means player welfare isn’t taken seriously’, because we have worked really hard on that narrative. Everyone knows we are putting player welfare, in its broadest sense, at the top of the agenda.

Harry Wilson of the Wallabies speaks to referee Andrea Piardi about the last try.Credit: Getty Images

“You can see that from what we are doing with the instrumented mouthguards, all the research, the science, the investigations. The way the laws of the game have evolved in the last few years is all about, ‘How do we have this great physical contest, but make it as safe as possible?’

“That part is challenging, in terms of the player welfare statements. But we have a fantastic sport, played in front of an amazing crowd ... it’s going to create talking points. As long as that continues to be a respectful debate then we’ve all got to lean into it.”

Schmidt would not face consequences for his post-match comments, Gilpin said.

“There’s a lot of emotion, understandably. The Wallabies had a chance to win an amazing Test match, so we understand the emotion involved in that,” Gilpin said.

“Joe’s comments have continued to respect the fact that the match officials have got a tough job to do. He might disagree with the decisions that were made, but I don’t think he’s called the integrity of our match officials into question.”

Carlo Tizzano of the Wallabies receives medical attention after the clash with Jac Morgan.Credit: Getty Images

Robinson, the former Wallaby who was elected WR chair last year, said he was a former chair of the refereeing selection committee. He said match officials go through an extensive review process, and like players, are held accountable for their performances, and can face consequences for future appointments.

“Our team will have looked at the match and looked at, you know, there are always going to be things that don’t work properly and there are going to be things that do,” he said.

“Ultimately, the referees are accountable. So I think there’s a sort of a sense that they’re not. You know, on the basis of performance over time, referees move up the rankings and they move down. They get picked for Test matches or they don’t.”

But Robinson also emphasised the need for WR to support the whistleblowers, citing Nic Berry being slammed publicly by Rassie Erasmus in the 2021 Lions tour of South Africa.

“The really important thing also is we protect our match officials because … on the Lions tour in South Africa, Nic got absolutely hammered, and hammered publicly. And you talk to Nic today and that’s something he’s still recovering from,” he said.

“So I take a real responsibility for protecting referees, valuing what they do and making sure that we understand they’re not perfect, but we also acknowledge the tough job that they do.”

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Revealing the ticketing program for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, RA and World Rugby – the joint organisers – revealed there would be one million tickets available for $100, as part of a drive to make the tournament as affordable and accessible as possible.

With an extra four teams in the tournament, a record 2.5 million tickets will be sold, with adults starting at $40 and children at $20. A limited number of new Superfan passes will also be sold next month, which guarantee four tickets to any match including the final.

After the draw is made in December, tickets will go on sale in phases from February 2026.

All nine matches of The British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia are live & on demand on Stan Sport, with Wallabies Tests in 4K. All Test matches live and free on Channel 9 & 9Now.

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