Chris Busby: Referee at centre of Mack Hansen controversy set to retire
Rugby referee Chris Busby will no longer referee after comments made by Mark Hansen led to the Ireland international being banned.
Busby has been appointed as assistant referee for this year’s Six Nations between France v Wales and Italy v France, but BBC Sport understands Sunday’s Investec Champions League tie between Bath and Clermont could be his referee. The last time he served as a referee in a professional game.
irish wing hanson three games suspended Busby and his refereeing team were critical of Connacht’s defeat to Leinster in the Rugby Union Championship last month.
Hansen has been banned for six weeks, three of which will be sidelined, meaning he will be available for Ireland’s Six Nations squad.
Hansen said the refereeing during the game at the Aviva Stadium on December 21 gave the impression that Connacht were playing against “16 men”.
As part of the sanctions, Australian-born Hansen must apologize to referee Busby and undergo “appropriate courses in relation to match officiating”. For Hansen, a longer ban will affect his chances of playing in the Six Nations.
While personal reasons were cited as the primary reason for Busby’s decision, the Hansen incident was cited as a factor.
