O'Brien apologises to rugby referee

20/11/2009 - 18:27:24
The International Rugby Board’s referees manager Paddy O’Brien has apologised to Stuart Dickinson for publicly criticising his handling of the New Zealand-Italy Test last weekend.

O’Brien said the Australian referee needed scrum coaching because he had been “completely wrong” to repeatedly penalise the All Blacks in their 20-6 victory at the San Siro.

The comments were made to members of the media after O’Brien’s scheduled meeting with the New Zealand management at the team hotel in London on Tuesday.

O’Brien said today: “I have unreservedly apologised to Stuart Dickinson for the action of publicly discussing elements of his performance review and would like to extend that apology to the Australian Rugby Union.

“A clear and confidential best practice protocol exists for match official appraisal and feedback involving all stakeholders and I regret breaching this protocol.”