Big lift for the ref as player gets too familiar

HAVING written a column last week about the dangers of over-familiarity between referees and players, it was instructive to see that in France it has reached an entirely different level. A video clip from the ProD2 match between Nevers and Beziers showed the referee, Laurent Millotte, blow for full-time to give the home side, Nevers, a knife-edge victory.

As he did so, the pintsized referee was grabbed from behind by the overjoyed Nevers winger, Josaia Raisuque, and found himself fork-lifted into the air above the big Fijian’s head. Although Raisuque put him down gently, the Beziers players called on the match officials to take action because Raisuque had broken Rugby Union’s golden rule of never man-handling the ref.

It had the desired effect, because after Millotte had recovered his composure and located his red card, he attempted to restore some dignity by sending off his over-friendly ‘assailant’.