NZRU reports Woodward for comments

Clive Woodward could find himself in hot water over the comments he made about Simon Shaw’s dismissal.

In the post-match press conference at Eden Park, Woodward branded the decision by Welsh referee Nigel Williams – on the advice of Australian touch judge Stuart Dickinson – as ridiculous and an over-reaction and even suggested that the crowd reacting to replays on the big screen had influenced the officials.

The press conference was broadcast live on the Rugby Channel and New Zealand Rugby Union deputy chief executive Steve Tew revealed the union had sent a copy of that broadcast to the International Rugby Board and expected Woodward’s remarks to be considered against the IRB’s code of conduct.

The code of conduct is part of IRB Regulation 20 and states that coaches and players should “accept and observe the authority and decisions of referees, touch judges, match officials and all other rugby disciplinary bodies, subject to Regulation 17 [which deals with illegal and foul play]“.

Regulation 20.1.5 states that the person should “not publish or cause to be published criticism of the manner in which a referee or touch judge handled a match“.

Woodward was not cited by match commissioner Dennis Wheelahan, an Australian, but Tew told The Dominion Post: “We believe some of his [Woodward’s] comments were interesting and have proactively sent a copy of the press conference to the IRB to look at.”