World Rugby rejects Joe Schmidt's player welfare complaints over last-minute British and Irish Lions try – ‘It's a very tough balance’
By Ben Southby
Updated 29/07/2025 at 15:15 GMT+1
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World Rugby boss Alan Gilpin has rejected a claim from Australia coach Joe Schmidt that the decision to allow the British and Irish Lions' winning try in the second Test was impacting the safety and welfare of players. Gilpin said he "doesn't agree" with Schmidt's claims. The Lions can seal a 3-0 victory over The Wallabies in their final Test of the three-match series in Australia.
'I thought it was a brilliant clearout' - Farrell discusses Morgan controversy amid 'dream' finale
Video credit: TNT Sports
World Rugby has rejected a claim from Australia coach Joe Schmidt over the British and Irish Lions' match-winning try against The Wallabies.
Hugo Keenan went over the line late on to snatch a dramatic victory for Andy Farrell's side - who had trailed by 18 points - which prompted the match officials to review a clearout in the build-up from flanker Jac Morgan.
The review was consequently cleared as The Lions clinched the second Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which led to frustration from Australian boss Schmidt, who believed the decision contravened the sport's player welfare principles.
He said that the decision "doesn't really live up to the big player safety push that they [World Rugby] are talking about".
However, in the wake of the drama, World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin has said he "doesn't agree" with Schmidt.
"I understand emotions are running high and I understand Joe's looking at specific laws and playing that into the sort of officiating and welfare debate," he explained on the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
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"But Joe knows well, and so do all the international coaches, that we are investing heavily [in player welfare], whether it's instrumented mouthguards across the professional game, whether it's all the investment we make in the science and research.
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Video credit: SNTV
"We're trying to find that really tricky but massively important balance between a sport that is a brilliant physical contest and as safe as it can be in for the players. It's a very tough balance.
"One of the great wonders of rugby is the complexity of our laws and the interpretation of that. We know that creates controversy and sometimes frustration but it also gets everyone talking about rugby, and talking positively about rugby and what an amazing game it was."
The British and Irish Lions will conclude their tour with a repeat against Australia, having already clinched the series.
They will hope to complete a whitewash of The Wallabies, with the chance to win the series 3-0.
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