Tokyo (AFP)
South African referee Jaco Peyper apologized for dubbed Frenchman Sebastien Vahaamahina's elbow in World Cup quarter-final action against Wales, World Rugby said on Tuesday. did not retain it for the semi-finals.
"Jaco Peyper acknowledges that the picture taken of him in the company of Welsh fans, who circulated on social media following the quarter-final between Wales and France, was out of place and he apologized," said World Rugby, who "confirms that the selection committee of match officials has dismissed Jaco Peyper of his selection for this weekend."
Welsh Nigel Owens will officiate the first semi-final on Saturday (8:00 GMT) in Yokohama (suburb of Tokyo) between New Zealand and England, while Frenchman Jérôme Garcès will officiate in the second between Africa South and Wales the next day (09:00 GMT), still in Yokohama.
Peyper was photographed after the quarter-final lost by the Blues (20-19) to Oita (south of Japan) miming, with a smile and in the company of Welsh fans, the nudge delivered by Vahaamahina in the 3rd line of Leek XV Aaron Wainwright, a gesture for which he had logically excluded him in the 49th minute of the game.
World Rugby announced Monday to open an investigation and the president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR) Bernard Laporte had called for a "heavy penalty".
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