Argentina fly-half Tomas Albornoz will miss the two-match Test series against the Wallabies after being hit by a four-match ban for a confrontation with Aussie referee Angus Gardner.
He has been suspended for four matches in total after admitting misconduct during interactions with match officials following his country’s 31-24 Nations Championship defeat by England.
The Toulon player was denied a chance to kick for a potential draw on July 18 in Santiago del Estero after a last-minute try from Bautista Delguy was ruled out by Gardner in consultation with television match official Brett Cronan.
Albornoz approached Gardner on two separate occasions and had to be restrained by team-mates.
The 28-year-old accepted his conduct, taken as a whole, was intimidatory but did not accept that his actions were abusive, insulting, offensive or threatening – a distinction which was accepted by both World Rugby and the disciplinary committee.
Albornoz will be banned for Argentina’s international against South Africa on Saturday and home matches against Australia in Jujuy on August 29 and Mendoza on September 5, plus Toulon’s Top 14 meeting with La Rochelle on September 12.
