Referee facing investigation over elbow photo

World Rugby is investigating the circumstances around a photo of referee Jaco Peyper in which he appears to mock the elbow to the head that earned France lock Sebastien Vahaamahina a red card against Wales.

Peyper sent Vahaamahina off for the thuggish cheap shot early in the second half of Sunday’s 20-19 World Cup quarter-final defeat by Warren Gatland’s side.

In full view of Oita Stadium the Clermont player struck Aaron Wainwright on the jaw during an attacking maul, leaving Peyper to make one of the easier decisions of his career.

But the South African official has now invited controversy after a photo emerged on social media showing him posing with

Welsh fans and playfully landing an elbow on to the head of one.

“World Rugby is aware of a picture on social media of referee Jaco Peyper with a group of Wales fans taken after last night’s quarterfinal between Wales and France in Oita,” a spokesperson said.

“It would be inappropriate to comment further while we are establishing the facts.”

French Rugby Federation vice president Dr Serge

Simon described the photo as “shocking”.

“This photo if it is true is shocking and explanations will be necessary,” Simon said on Twitter.

Gatland and his France counterpart Jacques Brunel endorsed Peyper’s decision to issue the eighth red card of Japan 2019.

T h e 2 8 - y e a r - o l d Vahaamahina, scorer of his side’s opening try, spent the rest of the game sitting on the bench with his hands on his head.

“The officials dealt with it appropriately. I don’t think anyone could complain about that” Gatland said.

“Rugby is heat of the moment stuff and he made an error of judgment.

“When you have got a lot of testosterone involved in some pretty high intensity games, that will sometimes happen. He’s made a poor decision.”

Brunel agreed that Vahaamahina deserved to be dismissed.

Referee Jaco Peyper