I’d send off Warburton again, says ref Rolland

ALAIN ROLLAND would send off Sam Warburton again if the Welsh captain, or any other player, committed another spear tackle during a game he was officiating.

The Irish referee was subject of a Welsh hate campaign following his decision to give the flanker a red card in the World Cup semi-final against France for the tackle on Vincent Clerc. Given more than a month to mull over his call, Rolland feels the response from the public has copper-fastened his view that he did the right thing.

“I don’t think it needs to be vindicated full stop. The important part when referees are involved, no matter what sport it is, you’ve got to take the emotion out of the incident,” he said on Today FM’s Ray Darcy Show yesterday.