‘I’m out, my body has gone’ – Shocking scenes as referee injured during England v Ireland Six Nations clash

In an extremely rare occurrence, referee Andrea Piardi was replaced during the Six Nations match between England and Ireland at the Allianz Stadium.

The Italian referee lasted just 29 minutes on Saturday before he was forced to call for his assistant, Pierre Brousse,t to take over proceedings after a suspected hamstring injury.

Ireland’s rampant start

England endured a sluggish start to proceedings in Twickenham with Ireland surging to a 22-0 lead with Jamison Gibson-Park pouncing first with a try in the 19th minute.

Robert Baloucoune and Tommy O’Brien quickly followed with Ireland sprinting into an emphatic lead.

Such was the pace of the game that Piardi’s body simply couldn’t cope with the official signalling for a replacement after a Josh van der Flier linebreak shortly after O’Brien’s score.

He pulled up after Ireland’s attack failed to finish off the try-scoring opportunity, with the referee seeking medical attention before informing the captains that his body wouldn’t allow him to continue.

“Guys, it’s sad for me to say it, but I’m out,” Piardi told Maro Itoje and Caelan Doris. “My body’s gone. Good game.”

The referee duly shook the duo’s hands before making his way to the touchline with Frenchman Brousset taking charge of the match.

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Following Piardi’s departure, England found some momentum with Fraser Dingwall scoring on the stroke of half-time to get his side on the board as Ireland led 22-7 at the break.

While it’s a rare occurrence for a referee to end his participation in a match due to injury, it has happened before and during a Rugby World Cup.

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During the quarter-final between Wales and Argentina in France in 2023, South African referee Jaco Peyper was helped off the pitch and replaced by Englishman Karl Dickson.

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Peyper sustained an Achilles tendon injury during the first half of the match when he awkwardly jumped out of the way of Argentine hooker Julian Montoya.

That injury forced Peyper into retirement at the age of 43, bringing down the curtain on his refereeing career that included 67 Test matches.

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