Welsh referee, Hugh Watkins, has been handed a twelve week suspension by the Welsh Rugby Union for criticising the decision not to award a red card to Ilai Tinai for this tackle on Lee Williams in last month's Hong Kong Sevens Final between Wales and Fiji.
Watkins tweeted after the incident
Sorry that's a shocker. Had to be red no other option. We need referees to be consistent in this area.
— Hugh Watkins (@Hughwatkins) March 24, 2013
Upon receiving a email from the WRU inviting him to a disciplinary hearing, Watkins resigned as a referee and subsequently received a twelve week ban.
Watkins said he was 'very disappointed with how it has been handled'.
He has received tweets of support from Johnathan Davies, Frankie Sheahan, Peter Stringer,Adam Jones and even Des Cahill. Watkins was a linesman for the 2007 Rugby World Cup and two Heineken Cup finals as well a role as a video referee on the ill fated remake of Gladiators in 2008.
Via Espnscrum
