Fergus Lee-Warner, a lock for the NSW Waratahs, finds himself under scrutiny from the Super Rugby Pacific judiciary following an incident during a match against his former team, the Western Force, in Perth on Saturday. The altercation began when Force centre Hamish Stewart took issue with Lee-Warner’s challenge as he scored, resulting in Stewart throwing the ball at him. This prompted a rush of players from both teams onto the field.
In the ensuing chaos, Lee-Warner appeared to swing at Force hooker Nic Dolly, raising questions about the nature of his actions—whether it was a punch or an open palm strike. Commentator Cameron Shepherd noted that while the intent couldn’t be definitively assessed, Lee-Warner’s movement towards Dolly’s head suggested an escalation in physicality that would likely be closely examined post-match. After this fracas, while Stewart’s try was allowed to stand, the referee awarded a penalty to the Waratahs for the throw that instigated the scuffle.
Former international Morgan Turinui expressed surprise that officials missed Lee-Warner’s actions, highlighting that it was evident he had thrown a punch. Lee-Warner’s strike reflects a broader tension between the teams, demonstrating that rivalries remain intense, regardless of the context of the season. Another Waratahs lock, Miles Amatosero, also got drawn into the skirmish, clashing with former NSW winger Dylan Pietsch.
In other match highlights, Force flanker Carlo Tizzano made history by scoring his thirteenth try of the season, surpassing the previous record for forwards in Super Rugby. This achievement places him ahead of notable players like Malcolm Marx and Codie Taylor, yet the season record for overall tries, held by Joe Roff and Ben Lam with sixteen, remains within reach.
As the fallout from this game unfolds, further developments are anticipated from the Super Rugby judiciary regarding Lee-Warner’s actions.