Rugby
ESPN staff 7y

Agustin Pichot questions appeal panel's Sonny Bill Williams ruling

Rugby

World Rugby vice-chairman Agustin Pichot has questioned an independent appeal panel's decision to reduce Sonny Bill Williams' suspension.

Williams has been cleared to play in New Zealand's Rugby Championship opener against Australia on Aug. 19 after it was ruled a warm-up game initially deemed not meaningful was now judged to "comply within the regulations' definition of a match".

Thursday's ruling prompted plenty of debate on social media, with Pichot admitting he did not agree with the outcome.

The former Argentina scrum-half tweeted:

Williams was initially banned for four weeks following his red card in the All Blacks' second Test defeat to the British & Irish Lions last month. 

Last week, World Rugby ruled that the Blues centre would miss the first Bledisloe Cup Test as it constituted the fourth "meaningful" match of that suspension.

However, the appeal panel has since decided that an Aug. 11 game involving the All Blacks, Counties Manukau and Taranaki does qualify as the final game of Williams' ban.

^ Back to Top ^