Apologetic Tomás Albornoz cops ban for angry confrontation

Argentina fly-half Tomás Albornoz will miss Argentina’s next three Tests and Toulon’s clash at home to La Rochelle in the second round of the 2026/27 Top 14 season after being handed a four-match ban.

Albornoz was charged with misconduct under the Match Official Abuse Sanction Process for angrily remonstrating with the match officials at the end of the Pumas’ 31-24 defeat in the Nations Championship on 18 July.

The 28-year-old was incensed that refereee Angus Gardner had taken advice from the TMO and disallowed a last-gasp try from Bautista Delguy that would have given the Pumas a shot at drawing the game, and appeared to make physical contact with the Australian whistle blower.

In the independent disciplinary report, it was noted that “Albornoz approached the referee on two separate occasions and had to be restrained by team-mates.”

Ordinarily, Albornoz’s offence would have carried a six-match ban but the player’s acceptance that he was guilty of misconduct and the apology he later made to Gardner, led to it being reduced by two games.

Even so, it is a big blow for the Pumas to lose their leading playmaker, who kicked 14 from 14 in the first three rounds of The Rugby Championship, for the Tests in August and September.

Fixture

Internationals

Argentina

03:00

9 Aug 26

South Africa

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The independent disciplinary report said: “Tomás Albornoz has been suspended for four matches after admitting misconduct arising from interactions with match officials following Argentina’s Nations Championship match against England on 18 July.

“In determining misconduct under Regulation 18, the disciplinary committee noted that the Argentina fly-half accepted the misconduct allegations. In particular, he accepted that his conduct, taken as a whole, was intimidatory.

“The committee accepted that contact with referee Angus Gardner, although limited in nature, occurred while disputing a match official’s decision and formed part of that overall course of intimidatory conduct. The committee also noted that Albornoz approached the referee on two separate occasions and had to be restrained by team-mates.

“The committee further noted that, while Albornoz accepted that his conduct amounted to intimidation of a match official, he did not accept that his actions were abusive, insulting, offensive or threatening. That distinction was accepted by both World Rugby and the committee.

“In determining sanction, the committee accepted that the contact with the referee, while limited, occurred in the context of disputing a match official’s decision and formed part of an overall course of intimidatory conduct. The committee considered that aspect of the misconduct comparable to the low-end entry point for contact with a match official under Appendix 1 to Regulation 17, which carries a six-match suspension.

“Taking into account Albornoz’s early acceptance of the charge, his undertakings to issue public and private written apologies, and his previously clear disciplinary record, the committee accepted that a four-match suspension was appropriate.

Albornoz is therefore suspended for the following matches:

8 August: Argentina v South Africa
29 August: Argentina v Australia
5 September: Argentina v Australia
12 September: Toulon v Stade Rochelais