Georgian referee, Nika Amashukeli may have become a world first on Friday night (8th March 2019)! The match; England U20s v Italy U20s at Goldington Road, Bedford.
As you can see in the video below, he takes a clatter as a lineout is setting up, which creates a nasty gash on his face. With 16 minutes on the clock, he stops play and is treated but the medics recognise they need to stitch him up properly. So, he leaves the field with the England team doctor.
Assistant referee, and fellow Georgian, Shota Tevzadze replaces Amashukeli. In itself, that’s not that infrequent – referees do sometimes get injured and are replaced by the senior AR or reserve referee.
But in what we believe may be a world first, Amashukeli then returned to the field, some 15 minutes later – the full length of an official players blood bin, with a cleaned up and stitched eyebrow!
A unique set of circumstances. Have you ever seen this happen? Is this a first? Let us know in the comments below if you’ve heard/seen it happen before!
For the record, England U20s won the game, 35-10.
My son is 16 and a rugby referee! He is an active player and plays hooker so no soft boy! He was referee at a U14 game and some young player leap old the ruck chasing the ball and broke his leg. It was not intentional but certainly unexpected! If your on the rugby field, the unexpected can happen!
Yes This happened to me at a league fixture in Harare some years ago. I couldn’t tell you the precise year. I rather foolishly got ahead of a restart and the fly-half changed directions and kicked the ball straight onto my mouth at moreorless point blank range. I had to leave the field, was stitched up and returned a few minutes later. It was not one of my better day, but I was inexperienced at the time!