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Ref mic audio picks up Neil Jenkins harassing Mathieu Raynal
By Ian Cameron
Ref mic audio has captured Welsh rugby legend Neil Jenkins engaging in a heated verbal exchange with referee Mathieu Raynal during Wales and Italy’s Six Nations clash in Cardiff.
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The incident occurred 23 minutes into the game as Italy led Wales, with Wales’ assistant coach Jenkins pausing to offer unsolicited advice to Raynal as he brought water to the Welsh players, critiquing Italy’s scrumhalf Stephen Varney for allegedly making a high tackle on a Welsh player.
French official Raynal – known for his no-nonsense approach – did not take kindly to Jenkins’s suggestions, marking a tense moment in the match.
Jenkins: “High tackle blue nine?”
Raynal: “Your job is to bring the water on.”
Jenkins: “Your job is to ref the game.”
Raynal: “That’s the second time you have talked to me.”
Jenkins: “Blue nine high tackle, our staff are saying it, blue nine high tackle.”
Raynal: “Come here, that is the last time, next time you cannot enter the field. You understand?”
Jenkins: “Yeah, yeah.”
You can watch the exchange below:
A clip of the exchange between Mathieu Raynal and Neil Jenkins.
Not on.#GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/eIvqLA2XaS
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Jenkins – who has a storied history in rugby – both as a player and a coach will no doubt attract criticism for the comments. RugbyPass understands that under current World Rugby protocols, as Raynal did not penalise Wales for Jenkins’ comments, he will not face a Six Nations disciplinary panel over the exchange.
Jenkins is celebrated in rugby for his impeccable accuracy as a kicker. Beginning his career at Pontypridd he soon became a fixture in the Wales national team.
Jenkins was pivotal in games amassing over 1,000 points in the Test arena over the course of a 87-cap Wales career. His skills also shone in British & Irish Lions tours.
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He currently sits 5th in the all-time points scorers list with 1090.
The abuse of officials has been a worrying trend in the game for a while.
World Rugby needs to protect referees otherwise soon we will not have any.. not so much at top level but at lower levels. Unpunished Jenkins actions will get replicated, much as the antics of Sexton, Farrell, Biggar get copied. He needs to be banned not just being a water boy but from Rugby through the summer and autumn. It needs to send a message. Abusing a referee is not acceptable.
get these ‘Waterboys’ OFF the field. Often 2-3 of them floating around whilst play continues. Theyre not dishing out water, its coaches instructions. Let the players play the game, let the referee control it. These waterboys have NO PLACE on the field let alone in the ref’s face. Its the scourge on the game now on steroids since the cheaty coach Erasmus got around his coaching ban (for his ‘leaked’ referee whinge). Another case of Safa’s being a rule unto themselves, look what we have to put up with now.
He isn't wrong. Grady has two hands on the ball and Pani tackles him with his face. Apparently just a rugby incident.
What’s worse is he’s basically pleading for a review of an incident he hasn’t even seen. Also very disrespectful. Should get some sort of ban. This disrespect to the ref has to stop.
What action will be taken against Jenkins?
My guess is: a strongly worded note.