The RFU Pro Game Match Official Teams have released a statement after Bath lodged an official complaint because during their 40-36 loss at Harlequins, Quins lock Irne Herbst came back on 7 minutes after being sinned bin.
It was an extraordinary game at Twickenham Stoop on Easter Saturday, with Bath almost coming back from 40-3 down with half an hour to go to snatch what would have been an unlikely victory.
The incident which has sparked a lot of headlines however happened with just over 15 minutes to go. Quins second row Irne Herbst was given a yellow card by referee Anthony Woodthorpe after Bath's second try for not retreating to his try line before Finn Russell took a quick-tap penalty. The Scotland international was tackled by Herbst and offloaded the ball to Alfie Barbury who got the score.
That took place around the 64 minute mark. Then many noticed that just before the 71 minute mark Herbst was on the field, while the clock on the TNT Sports broadcast still had a graphic up saying there were 4 minutes left in the sin bin.
So looks like Irne Herbst came on THREE minutes earlier than he should’ve after his yellow card.
63:52 - Sent to sin bin.
70:52 - Back on.Mistakes like that can’t be made.
Johann van Graan “We flagged it to the referee after the game, we’ll trust the process”#GallagherPrem
— Tight Five Rugby (@TightFive_Rugby) March 30, 2024
It's just the latest refereeing controversy for the English Premiership after the bizarre TMO-Austin Healy debacle last weekend in a match also involving Harlequins when they faced Saracens. Speaking after the match Bath Head Coach Johann Van Graan said his side noticed the error and let it be known to the fourth official.
There’s not a lot that he (the referee) can do, on the pitch he wasn’t even aware of it.
We went through our team manager and we made the fourth official aware.
On a yellow card, you’re supposed to be off for 10 minutes, not seven.
The Telegraph reported late Saturday night that Bath were to lodge a complaint to both the RFU and Premiership Rugby demanding an explanation and the RFU came out with an official statement Sunday Morning saying they acknowledge and apologise for the error but the result will remain final.
The RFU Professional Game Match Officials Team (PGMOT) acknowledge and apologise for an error during the Gallagher Premiership match between Harlequins v Bath where a yellow card sanction resulted in Irné Herbst returning to the pitch approximately three minutes too soon.
We would like to apologise to both teams for this mistake. As is the usual process the PGMOT will review all games to ensure continued improvement and learnings.
The result of the match remains final.
This is certainly not what you want to see coming into the business end of the season.
