Rugby must come down hard on dissent like Aki's, says refs chief

RED MIST: Bundee Aki of Connacht is shown a red card by referee Gianluca Gnecchi during the United Rugby Championship match between DHL Stormers and Connacht at Stellenbosch in South Africa. Pic: Ashley Vlotman/Sportsfile

Dissent like that shown by Bundee Aki towards a referee at the weekend should be treated in the harshest possibly way, BKT United Rugby Championship referees’ boss Tappe Henning has said.

Ireland centre Aki was red-carded after coming on as a replacement for Connacht against URC champions Stormers in Stellenbosch on Saturday having made shoulder to head contact with Seabelo Senatla as the wing was crouched over tackled player John Porch.