Connacht's winning try should not have been awarded, say EPCR

Connacht’s match-winning score against Wasps in their Champions Cup Pool 2 match should not have counted it has since been revealed by the EPCR.

The Westerners final try from Naulia Dawai and subsequent Jack Carty conversion to win the match 20-18 originated from a lineout, which was given from a penalty that was kicked to touch in injury time by Connacht, when captain John Muldoon asked if his team could do so. The question was directed at the assistant referee with referee Jerome Garces of the field injured.

The governing body for the Champions Cup, the EPCR, released the following statement on the matter on Sunday.

“EPCR would like to clarify an issue arising from yesterday's European Rugby Champions Cup round 4 match between Connacht Rugby and Wasps at The Sportsground,” read the statement.

“The assistant referee, who had taken over as match referee following an injury to Jerome Garces, awarded a penalty to Connacht after time had elapsed. Connacht kicked the ball into touch and from the resultant line-out, scored a converted try to win the game 20-18.

"However, as time had elapsed, Connacht should not have been permitted to take a line-out throw-in once the ball had been kicked into touch as stipulated in Law 5.7 (e) of World Rugby's Laws of the Game.

"EPCR would like to thank all parties for their understanding and would also like to confirm that the result of the Pool 2 match stands."

The confusion could potentially centre around World Rugby's trialling of new laws in the Pacific Challenge, U20 Trophy, Tbilisi Cup, Nations Cup, Principality Cup in Wales, France’s Academy League, the National Rugby Championship in Australia and England’s Army Premiership throughout 2016; one of these trilled laws allows teams to kick to touch if awarded a penalty after the 80 minutes has expired and take the resulting penalty. However, these rules are merely being trialled and are not in full effect at all levels of the game or in the Champions Cup. They will come into full effect in the southern hemisphere from 1 January 2017 and the northern hemisphere from 1 August 2017.

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