Italy rugby coach Quesada banned for two matches after referee criticism
Italy’s rugby head coach, Gonzalo Quesada, has been handed a two-match suspension following his critical remarks about the officiating in his team’s recent match against New Zealand. This disciplinary action was confirmed by World Rugby, who announced the decision on Thursday.
In an interview conducted by Sky Sport after Italy faced a significant loss to New Zealand, with a score of 47-17 in the Nations Championship, Quesada described referee Luc Ramos as “super poor.” He specifically pointed out that the referee’s decisions exacerbated the already considerable margin of Italy’s defeat.
Furthermore, Quesada expressed his frustration regarding the scheduling of Italy’s matches, noting that the team’s campaign commenced with a 27-10 defeat against Japan in Tokyo before they had to jet off to Wellington for the encounter with New Zealand. Italy’s next fixture is set against Australia in Perth this Saturday.
World Rugby stated, “Gonzalo Quesada has been issued an automatic two-match suspension, which prohibits him from participating in any match-day activities, including being present in the stadium.” This suspension arises from remarks made on-air following the match.
It is noteworthy that Quesada retains the right to appeal this ruling, which aligns with a newly instituted regulation by World Rugby aimed at addressing match official abuse. This sanction process is applicable across elite competitions and serves the purpose of safeguarding referees from inappropriate comments and behavior.
The Italian Rugby Federation acknowledged World Rugby’s ruling and announced plans to file an appeal against the suspension.
At present, Italy finds itself languishing at the bottom of the Northern Hemisphere standings in the Nations Championship after experiencing two consecutive defeats.
Nations Championship 2026 Overview
The inaugural Nations Championship is set to feature six nations from the Northern Hemisphere alongside six from the Southern Hemisphere, competing over six rounds during the international windows in July and November. The culmination of this competition will take place in Twickenham during a memorable finals weekend scheduled for November 27-29.
For further insights regarding the Nations Championship fixtures, previews, standings, and all relevant news, you can explore detailed coverage on the official rugby union platforms.
