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Under fire.

Former Wallabies captain Michael Hooper wants Andrea Piardi banned from refereeing Australia matches following another controversial Test involving the Italian official.

Piardi was in charge of Australia’s remarkable 42-38 victory over South Africa in Perth, with the Wallabies finishing the game with just 11 players after receiving four yellow cards late on.

Speaking on Stan Sport’s Between Two Posts, Hooper believes there is now too much history between Piardi and the Wallabies for World Rugby to continue appointing him to their Tests.

“I don’t think Andrea Piardi should be allowed to referee Australia again,” Hooper said.

“The reason I say that is not because of what I think about his reffing or him as a referee because I haven’t watched enough of his games as referee in my time, but it should be a World Rugby thing to look after their referees.

“World Rugby needs to think, ‘Well, there’s been some history now with this referee and this nation’.”

Piardi showed yellow cards to Harry Wilson, Ryan Lonergan, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Hunter Paisami during a chaotic finish in Perth as the Springboks fought back from 42-17 down.

The match was made even more difficult to manage when the officials’ communication system failed, forcing Piardi to use a mobile phone to communicate with the TMO.

Hooper’s concerns, however, extend beyond the South Africa Test.

Australia had lost their previous three matches with Piardi in charge, against Ireland in 2024, the British & Irish Lions in 2025 and New Zealand in 2025. The victory over the Springboks was their first with the Italian as referee.

“Unfortunately you do carry scars from previous games and previous fixtures as players going into next match-ups, and I think the referees probably do too,” Hooper said.

“They’re human, and it becomes hard. So I think in a duty of care sense he shouldn’t be put in a Wallabies game again.

“There are plenty of great referees out in the world, and Piardi is certainly a referee who can do it at the top level, but it shouldn’t be with Australia.”