France‘s Six Nations triumph has been coloured by controversy after Peato Mauvaka’s off-ball headbutt on Ben White during the first half of their 35-16 win over Scotland in Paris.
After White was pushed to the ground by French full-back Thomas Ramos, Mauvaka then appeared to launch himself at the Toulon scrum-half leading with his head, after the whistle had blown.
Mauvaka was shown a yellow card after referee Matthew Carley and television match official Marius van der Westhuizen ruled that there was not a “high level of danger” despite his actions.
square RUGBY UNION
England begin to deliver on Borthwick's promises - but I still have my doubts
Read MoreThe incident took place after 20 minutes with the score at 13-5 to France and Mauvaka was able to play a key role in their victory after returning from the sin bin.
After the match, Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend suggested the laws of the game had been applied wrong, saying: “The decision not to raise it to a red card was because there was not excessive force.
“I’m not sure that is the criterion for a non-tackle incident. That was clearly not a tackle incident. It was after the whistle. So if there was head contact and that was intentional, it shouldn’t really have anything to do with the force.”
Scotland co-captain Rory Darge went further, explaining it “looked like an intentional headbutt” and deserved a red card.
Meanwhile former Scotland No 8 Johnnie Beattie said on ITV: “I’d say so [Mauvaka should have been sent off]. You can’t be flying across by the head at people in rugby. We don’t have a place for that in our sport. I think he’s very lucky. He’s very fortunate that hasn’t been upgraded to a red.”
Yet ITV commentator Scott Hastings agreed with the call, saying: “That is the right decision. Mauvaka had an opportunity to stop, but he has thrown himself into Ben White. It’s a yellow card. On a rugby field, you can’t do that.”
"You can't be flying across the ground and headbutting people in rugby."
Should Peato Mauvaka have been sent off? #GuinnessM6N | #FRAvSCO pic.twitter.com/ou5v6Pm39p
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) March 15, 2025
By saying Mauvaka’s lunge did not have a “high level of danger”, it is clear the refereeing team assessed the headbutt as if it happened during play, like a head-on-head collision.
Assessed by that standard, a yellow card would still be generous, but it is more understandable how they have reached that decision.
However, as it was an off-ball incident – with the whistle clearly blown before Mauvaka gets up – it counts as both retaliation, against the spirit of good sportsmanship and reckless, if not dangerous.
These are all grounds for a potential red card and when combined, certainly should have earned one.
Townsend said after the game: “Whether that had anything to do with the final result, who knows. France are a quality side and deserved champions. They were the better side in the end.
“But I think [the bunker review system] gives referees an out. We’ve taken decision-making away from referees. That’s the process we have now to speed up the game, but you don’t want to miss incidents that are clearly red cards.”
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( The call that decided the Six Nations – should Peato Mauvaka have been sent off? )
Also on site :
- Martial Arts Star Johnny Tri Nguyen To Headline Vietnamese Historical Epic ‘The Last Secret Of The First Emperor’
- Suspect in armed carjacking arrested after barricading himself in stolen car in Live Oak
- Ukraine-Russia war latest: US says peace breakthrough unlikely as Putin and Zelensky skip Turkey talks