Sam Underhill slammed by Irish legend for refusing to leave field despite referee’s orders
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Not acceptable.
England flanker Sam Underhill has been slammed by Ireland legend Donncha O’Callaghan for his carry on in England’s defeat to Italy last weekend.
Underhill has come under fire for his treatment of the referee after the pair had a feisty interaction when the England flanker went down with an injury.
With just over half an hour on the clock, the referee ordered Underhill off the pitch as he was holding up the game, but Underhill refused.
“You are a ref. I’m sorry, I’m staying out here for this one. You are not a medic, you are a ref,” Underhill said.
As O’Callaghan points out, a rugby referee has the authority to overrule a team doctor and force a player off the field if they believe the player is unfit to continue, particularly regarding head injuries or concussions.
You can watch the incident here if the clip below doesn’t play.
Under World Rugby laws, the referee has final say.
“There’s a clip there of Sam Underhill chatting to the referee, and like, it’s disgraceful,” O’Callaghan said.
“He has to leave the pitch because he has blood pouring down his head.
“And all the match medics and Underhill are telling the ref, ‘no, I’m going nowhere, you’re not a doctor’
“On our pitch he is a higher ranking than a doctor. He is the referee or she is the referee.
“And we have absolute respect, so get off the pitch!”
You can watch the full episode below, with the Underhill part at around 38 minutes.
