Italy coach Quesada's ban reduced to one Test

Italy head coach Gonzalo Quesada has had his ban for criticising a referee downgraded to one Test, with the Argentinian saying Saturday he "deeply regrets" the outburst.

Quesada was fuming in a television interview after the team's 47-17 defeat to New Zealand in Wellington last week, blasting French referee Luc Ramos as "super poor".

He also hit out at the scheduling of the Nations Championship.

World Rugby suspended him for two Tests under a new rule introduced this month called the Match Official Abuse Sanction Process.

Quesada opted to appeal and after fronting an Independent Disciplinary Committee in Perth, the punishment was downgraded to one Test.

"I have apologised privately to Luc Ramos and want to do so publicly," Quesada, who will miss the clash with Australia in Perth on Saturday, said in a statement.

"He is a referee who deserves to officiate at this level, and I have the utmost respect for him, as for all match officials. 

"Discussions about refereeing should take place in the appropriate places, and not in public -- the words of us coaches and players carry weight and can contribute to criticism or abuse of referees, particularly on social media.

"I deeply regret if my comments played a role in this."

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© Agence France-Presse