Nigel Owens has explained why France star was not red-carded for controversial incident

03/20/2025 06:56 PM

When France hooker Peato Mauvaka decided to introduce his forehead to Ben White during the Six Nations clash in Paris, it sparked plenty of debate. But who better to clear things up than legendary referee Nigel Owens?

Owens, never one to shy away from giving his opinion, has now offered his expert take on the incident and why the outcome wasn't a red card.

Join RUCK's Instagram broadcast channel and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone. 

Mauvaka's Moment of Madness

The incident unfolded after 20 minutes, with France leading 10-0. Mauvaka, in a moment of frustration, launched himself at White while the Scottish scrum-half was lying helpless on the ground. Referee Matthew Carley showed a yellow card, and while TMO Ian Tempest had a closer look, the decision stayed as a sin-bin offence.

Despite avoiding a red at the time, Mauvaka's luck ran out post-match. Cited for the offence, the Toulouse hooker was slapped with a three-game ban—down from an initial six due to his admission of guilt and a previously clean record.

Owens Breaks It Down on Whistle Watch

Addressing the chaos on Whistle Watch, Owens explained on Whistle Watch why the on-field decision remained a yellow.

"A lot of you have been talking about the Peato Mauvaka yellow card which was reviewed and remained at a yellow," Owens began. "So what we have here is a player clearly launching himself at an opponent who is on the ground.

"Now the key thing here is footage to see if there is direct contact with the neck or the head area and if there was so, then I'm pretty sure there would be no doubt that it would be a red card.

"But because of the footage available to everybody on the day, it was not possible to make that judgement call."

Shoulder Contact Saves Mauvaka

Owens highlighted a crucial detail that likely saved Mauvaka from an early shower.

"I know some of you will be asking, 'Why was it not the red card relevant to where the contact is?' Because it seems to the officials of the day that the contact was with the shoulder," he continued.

"Now imagine if there was a punch to the shoulder—would that mean because it's to the shoulder that is not the red card? Maybe so. It all comes down to your interpretation of the referee on the day. If they believe it warrants a red card."

No 20-Minute Red for This One

Owens wrapped up his assessment by pointing out that, had there been head contact, it wouldn't have been a 20-minute red.

"The other thing to remember as well is if the officials felt that there was direct head contact to the head or shoulder in a head-butting action, then it would have been a straight red card because it is an act of foul play, so it wouldn't be a 20-minute red card as we've seen being trialled in this year's Six Nations."

EDITORS PICKS:

• Competition: A chance to roar the Lions on down under in Sydney and Melbourne!
• Team of the Tournament: 2025 Guinness Men's Six Nations
• Four nominees announced for Six Nations Player of the Tournament
• "Be Yourself" – Henry Pollock reveals what Ellis Genge said to him upon his England debut
• "It's devastating"- Wales coach Matt Sherratt reacts to record 68-14 defeat to England 
• England's 2025 Six Nations Players Ranked From Best to Worst

Five England players blacklisted by Steve Borthwick – one wants to quit for Six Nations rival

From a fullback who was once undroppable to a powerful winger who was compared to Jonah Lomu, here are five England stars who have fallen completely out of favour—one of whom could be lost to Wales for good.

Freddie Steward – The rock-solid fullback cast aside

It wasn't long ago that Freddie Steward was considered a guaranteed starter for England. A defensive rock under the high ball and a reliable last line of defence, he played a crucial role in England's World Cup campaign.

Yet, in a shocking turn of events, Borthwick has axed him in favour of Marcus Smith—a player who isn't even a specialist fullback. This drastic move highlights just how far Steward has fallen in the pecking order. Nobody saw this coming.

Zach Mercer – From France's best to England's forgotten man

Zach Mercer's return to the Premiership was met with serious hype. After being named Top 14 Player of the Year at Montpellier, it seemed inevitable that he would finally be given a proper shot in an England jersey.

A call-up to a World Cup training camp suggested Borthwick was keen to reintegrate him, but Mercer never added to his two caps. His stint at Gloucester has been frustrating, and with reports suggesting he'll leave at the end of the season, his England career looks all but over.

CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO

The post Nigel Owens has explained why France star was not red-carded for controversial incident appeared first on Ruck.