Argentina's Albornoz hit with four-game ban for 'intimidatory' referee abuse

Argentina's Tomas Albornoz will miss Tests against South Africa and Australia after being given a four-game suspension for confronting referee Angus Gardner following a Nations Championship defeat against England.

The Pumas made a desperate attempt at a comeback in the closing minutes of the 31-24 loss in Santiago del Estero on July 18.

But Gardner, after prolonged consultation with the television match official, disallowed a late try by Bautista Delguy that would have led to a conversion that could have secured a draw for Argentina.

Fly-half Albornoz had to be physically restrained by a coaching staff member and then a teammate as he remonstrated with the referee and threw the ball into the ground after the final whistle.

A World Rugby statement issued Wednesday said a disciplinary committee found Albornoz "accepted his conduct, taken as a whole, was intimidatory".

The committee said the contact with the referee, while limited, occurred in the context of disputing a match official's decision and formed part of an overall course of intimidatory conduct.

Albornoz's early acceptance of the charge, his undertakings to issue public and private written apologies, and his previously clear disciplinary record, led the committee to impose a four-match suspension.

Albornoz will now miss Argentina's clash against South Africa on August 8 and two Tests with Australia on August 29 and September 5.

The 28-year-old has also been banned from French side Toulon's match against La Rochelle on September 12.