Ex-Irish referee boss: The Tadhg Furlong defence that makes it ‘hard to convict’ him and why it was ‘different’ from Springbok’s nasty incident

Former head of Irish referees Owen Doyle claims that Tadhg Furlong and Jan-Hendrik Wessels’ testicle-grabbing incidents were different and that the disciplinary panel would have found it difficult to suspend the British and Irish Lions tighthead prop.

Furlong avoided a ban after he was cited for allegedly groping Gavin Coombes during Leinster’s 24-18 win over Munster in Dublin.

During the match, Coombes reported the alleged incident to referee Andrew Brace in the first half, but TMO Colin Stanley could not find conclusive video evidence to sanction Furlong. The prop was subsequently cited for his actions and appeared before a disciplinary panel