World Rugby accused of ‘rewarding failure’ following ‘appalling’ Andrea Piardi’s Lions Test appointment

World Rugby’s confirmation on Thursday that much-criticised official Andrea Piardi has been appointed as the second Test referee for the upcoming British and Irish Lions tour series has generated plenty of heat on social media.

The Italian will take charge of the July 26 game in Melbourne featuring the Wallabies and Andy Farrell’s tourists, but confirmation of this appointment has drawn the ire of some rugby fans given that the news emerged just 12 days after his terrible refereeing gaffe in Limerick.

Tasked with controlling the important April 19 Munster versus Bulls United Rugby Championship match in Limerick, Piardi forgot the law governing whether a team must sacrifice an additional player if the scrum has to go uncontested.

Munster had lost prop Oli Jager to a first-half injury and after his replacement Stephen Archer lasted just 12 minutes of the second half, the Irish side should have been allowed to go to uncontested scrums without the loss of an extra player as Jager’s departure was due to a head injury.

Piardi and his supporting team of officials, though, overlooked the Jager reason and instead called on Munster to drop to 14 players by sacrificing back-rower Alex Kendellen. This decision forced them to erroneously play a man short before the error was rectified 14 minutes later and Munster were allowed to restore their line-up to 15 players.

‘I’d love to see performance reviews…’

The Italian referee’s gaffe in not properly applying the law was savagely criticised… but the mishap hasn’t tarnished his reputation in the corridors of power as he has learned less than two weeks later that he will referee a Lions Test match in Australia along with New Zealand’s Ben O’Keeffe and Georgia’s Nika Amashukeli.

World Rugby have appointed 28 different referees to take charge of a total of 38 matches in the July window. This includes the visits of France to New Zealand, England to Argentina and Italy to South Africa.

However, the revelation that Piardi will be centre stage for the second Lions Test in Australia – as well as their Test series warm-up game against an Invitational Australia/New Zealand XV in Adelaide – is the appointment that has most exercised fans.

Commenting on X, the social media platform formerly known as X, John Loftus wrote: “FFS. After his cluster f*ck at Thomond Park Piardi gets to ref two matches on the Lions tour, including a Test, and is assistant on four others!! Rewarding failure. Well done, World Rugby.”

Sean Docherty added: “I’d love to see performance reviews and know how these are decided because Piardi is consistently absolutely appalling and just gets bigger and bigger games.”

The Travelling Reserve reckoned: “The continued selection of Piardi in these high-profile games is genuinely mind-blowing. Bloke doesn’t understand basic laws. That second Test is going to be carnage.”

Danny O’Brien said: “If Piardi is viewed at high on the list we’re in trouble. So often he’s the centre of attention when it should be the total opposite.”

Mylerdoo suggested: “How can Piardi get a Lions test? The last game I saw with him, Saints vs Castres, was an absolute s*** show due to his abysmal performance.”

El Pistolero queried: “How on earth has Piardi got arguably the most crucial Test after that pantomime in Munster a few weeks ago?”

Johnny Boy 2660 added: “How is Andrea Piardi anywhere near a Lions Test match? Would rather have an Aussie ref.”

FFS after his cluster fuck at Thomond Park Piardi gets to ref 2 matches on the Lions tour including a test & is assistant on 4 others !! Rewarding failure, well done @WorldRugby 👏 https://t.co/Rz9B30mNyo

— John Loftus (@loftysnds) May 1, 2025

Adam Moursy quipped: “How Piardi continues to get games is beyond me,” while Pat Kennedy asked: “Will someone explain the rules to Piardi please?” Meanwhile, Tom Hiorns concluded: “Piardi should be nowhere near a Lions series.”

The responses about Piardi weren’t fully 100 per cent negative, though. Stuart John Hayward said: “Great that Nika Amashukeli has at LAST been recognised for continued excellence. O’Keeffe for being neutral and Piardi for his rapid progress.”

Veteran journalist Peter Jackson added: “New Zealander Ben O’Keeffe takes charge of the first followed by Andrea Piardi and Nika Amashukeli. Appointments of historic significance for Italy and Georgia rugby. No more than they deserve.”

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