How Vlad has

WORLD Rugby launched an inquiry yesterday into the appointment of a Romanian referee to oversee a match which sent Romania through to next year’s World Cup and ended with the official needing to be protected from incensed Spanish players. Spain only had to beat lowly Belgium to squeeze out Romania and qualify for the tournament for the first time in 20 years, but they lost 18-10 after suffering a penalty count of 18-7 against them in one of the most remarkable displays of whistling since Roger Whittaker was at his peak. Now the sport’s governing body want to know how it came to be that Vlad Iordachescu was put in charge of last Sunday’s fixture by Rugby Europe. Spain had asked for the official to be stood down once it became clear it was a them-or-us situation with appointments for the Rugby Europe Championship have been made ahead of the competition by an independent and neutral skilled committee.

“It has been reviewed and confirmed during the tournament based on referees’ performance at international level.

“While we appreciate that this is a subject of high emotion, it would be inappropriate to comment on match official performance before the usual full review has been undertaken.”

But Jaime Nava, the Spain captain, said the way the game in Brussels panned out has made him question the appointment – and the sport.

“I don’t want to think that rugby has been prostituted to leave us out,” said Nava. “When we were assigned the Romanian referee, we were shocked.”

Unless World Rugby declare the game void, Spain now face the prospect of a play-off against Portugal, and then a potential shoot-out with Samoa, for the last place at Japan 2019. Romania, meanwhile, have the honour of playing in the opening game of