Fans and pundits have slammed decision-makers who allowed Lyon winger Davit Niniashvili to stay on the field after apparently being knocked out following a nasty hit from Toulon and South Africa lock Eben Etzebeth during the European Challenge Cup final.
Georgian winger Niniashvili, 19, was left sprawled on the floor after Etzebeth came speeding into him from behind at a clearout to make shoulder contact with the back of his head in the 72nd minute of Friday night's final in Marseille, when eventual winners Lyon were leading 30-7.
The incident came moments after impressive winger Niniashvili tackled Etzebeth to the floor only to spring back into action to tackle Toulon's Cheslin Kolbe, too. But barely a few moments had passed before Etzebeth collided with the teenager from behind, an incident that left the commentary box expecting a red card that never came.
BT Sport commentator Nick Mullins dubbed it an "absolute cheap shot", while Austin Healey said: "That is a red. Etzebeth gets him back. He comes in from distance, he picked him up, I think he's knocked him out. That is a dirty, dirty, cheap shot. He knew exactly what he was doing."
Niniashvili was left lying on the turf as he received medical attention, with his legs having to be physically picked up and moved to free another player.
As for a lack of sanction, TMO Ian Tempest said of Etzebeth: "His right arm is around his body, as is his left arm. I'm not seeing anything illegal here at the moment", to which referee Luke Pearce agreed.
Somehow Niniashvili was then allowed to return to action despite appearing to stumble while re-joining the defensive line, with Healey saying: "Niniashvili is all over the place, they've got to take him off for a HIA. He's just stood up, he's going back into the defensive line. He's had a brilliant game apart from that foot, but come on, the guy doesn't know where he is."
Mullins added: "I cannot believe that Niniashvili is still on the pitch. He's got no idea what's going on. He's doing well to stay on his feet. The bloke needs to be taken off."
Former Scotland international Jim Hamilton said on Twitter: "Lyon medical team are a bunch of clowns", while retired Irish rugby giant Rob Kearney asked: "Are the Lyon medical team literally asleep!!?"
Confusion then ensued when the referee signalled that Jean-Marc Doussain was coming on as a replacement for Lyon's Niniashvili, only for the bench player to come back off the field. "Niniashvili is in no position to make a decision on his health at the moment", Mullins said. "Hard to believe he's still out there, and Jean-Marc Doussain feels exactly the same."
Niniashvili eventually exited the field shortly afterwards, to which Mullins said: "Look at him, that's a decision that should have been taken three minutes ago."
Progressive Rugby, a lobby group formed to ask for more to be done to protect the well-being of players, said in a statement on Twitter: "Progressive Rugby wish to express their deep concern around the handling of Lyon player Davit Niniashvili during last night’s showpiece European Challenge Cup final in Marseille. Niniashvili suffered a clear concussion but his welfare was placed at significant risk by being allowed to remain on the pitch for a period before withdrawal. This is again a bad look for a game that can ill afford it, especially given repeated claims that player welfare is its number one priority. Getting this right is crucial to the future of this great game.”
Lyon went on to claim their first European trophy in their history with a 30-12 victory over Toulon at Stade Velodrome in front of a record crowd of 51,431 in Marseille. It is their first major trophy win in 89 years, after being crowned French champions in 1933.
Tries from Baptiste Couilloud, Pierre-Louis Barassi and a penalty try put Lyon in control and while Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe claimed a late consolation during a frantic final quarter which saw Lyon down to 13 men at one point, it was to be enough to secure victory for Lyon.
Lyon's penalty try came early in the second half when Aymeric Luc was sent to the sin bin for slapping the ball away to prevent Niniashvili going over unchallenged.
The Georgian winger had also put his foot on the dead-ball line in the process of grounding the ball for a try just before half time, but thankfully his mistake did not prove critical to the overall result.
