5:31pm, 07 November 2020

By Rugby Onslaught

@kick_francis

• Top 14

Bizarre scenes with referee and phone in French rugby today

There were bizarre scenes in the Top 14 today as one referee forgot that he was still carrying his phone in the match between Toulouse and Castres.

The moment came towards the end of the first half with the score standing at 13-3 to Toulon.

Have we ever seen this happen before?

We see as there is some commotion on the field as the referee blows his whistle to stop play.

In the end, it was tighthead prop, Wilfrid Hounkpatin, who noticed that the phone was on the floor as play went on and made an effort to retrieve it before any more home could come to it.

We watch as he hands it to the linesman while play is stopped. We can only assume that the referee had placed his phone in his pocket and completely forgot. French rugby ay, you never know what to expect!

Watch the bizarre moment in the video below

In more news

Forgotten 2013 Lions star to lead Ospreys alongside debutant for tilt at PRO14 ‘market leaders’

Forgotten star of the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour, Dan Lydiate, will lead Ospreys for the third time this season when they take on Leinster. The 32-year-old be will joined in the engine room Wales Test internationals Adam Beard and Bradley Davis.

“It’s been a long time coming…everyone was desperate for the win, and put their bodies on the line.”

Seren y gêm/Man of the match, Dan Lydiate

🏉 Canlyniad/Result@ospreys 26-24 @UlsterRugby

🏆@PRO14Official
📺@S4Cchwaraeon @S4C
💻 https://t.co/kiaQ9rOuyq
📍Stadiwm Liberty pic.twitter.com/eIujSUumt7

— Clwb Rygbi (@yclwbrygbi) February 15, 2020

The chop tackle technique became a mini-trend in the game in the early 2010s and Lydidate was its key exponent and was largely credited for driving its popularity. Capped 64 times for his country, injury and move to Racing 92 disrupted his Test career. The 32-year-old hasn’t been capped by Wales since 2016 when a cruel injury against South Africa once again put pay to any Test ambitions.

Alongside him in the back-row is Gareth Evans at number 8 and Will Griffiths who makes his first PRO14 start for the Ospreys. An unchanged front five sees Rhodri Jones, Dewi Lake and Ma’afu Fia line up in the front-row and Adam Beard and Bradley Davies in the second. Ifan Phillips, Gareth Thomas and Tom Botha provide the cover off the bench alongside Olly Cracknell and Ospreys debutant Rhys Davies.

I rewatched Lions Raw 2013 this morning @lionsofficial & still my favourite part is the dance off between @dan_lydiate @mikephillips009 & @StuartWHOGG_ 😂👏🏼 pic.twitter.com/elDImMBMZL

— Jake Allen (@JA3_Coaching) March 24, 2020

In the backs Cai Evans comes into the starting line-up alongside the unchanged duo of Luke Morgan and Mat Protheroe on the wings. Joe Hawkins and Scott Williams maintain the centre partnership with Reuben Morgan-Williams and Josh Thomas taking the keys to nine and ten shirts once again.

Off the bench Callum Carson is named after making his PRO14 debut last weekend, alongside the experienced duo of Hanno Dirksen and Shaun Venter.

Speaking ahead of the game, Head Coach Toby Booth said: “I am less worried about Leinster and where they are in their journey as a team, everyone knows how good they are, they are the market leaders in the PRO14. Everyone knows they are there to aspire to but we can’t control them and I am more interested in what we do and how we respond from last week.

“The character side of our team I am really proud of. The ability to keep fighting until the bitter end and we came up short, only just, last Monday, but if we have good character, a good culture and consistent performances you get closer to teams like Leinster.