Legendary rugby referee Nigel Owens has stepped in to provide clarity on Taulupe Faletau's disallowed try against Scotland.
With five minutes to play in the round four clash, Scarlets star Blair Murray completed a remarkable run to scythe through the Scots - side-stepping, jumping and bumping players off to set up Faletau for what could have been one of the finest scores of the tournament.
Wales had been chipping away at the deficit and threatening a comeback against Gregor Townsend's side, so this try, with a successful conversion, could have put Wales in with a chance of beating the home side. After a conversation with TMO Eric Gauzins, referee Andrea Piardi decided to rule out the try, with Murray's jump over Will Hurd being deemed an illegal act.
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Despite the fact it was, according to the rulebook, the correct decision, many fans were left perplexed at the idea that a player can jump to score a try but they are not allowed to jump to avoid a tackle. Welshman Owens weighed in on the social media debate to let fans know why that's the case.
"It’s different if you are jumping or diving to score a try as it’s deemed your actions are to score the try rather than jump to avoid a tackle," wrote Owens on X. He was replying to a post which included an argument against the decision, with a picture of Tom Rogers' stunning finish against Ireland, where he jumped to avoid James Lowe and score.
"I watched the game in the City Arms today, the decision was met with a reaction of disbelief and laughter. That is not a good look for the sport," said one Welsh rugby fan in response to Owens' point.
While this may have been legally cleared up, many other rugby fans have questioned the rule itself and whether it is in the spirit of the game. Others drew comparisons to NFL, and how a feat of athleticism like Murray's would have been commended across the pond.
"Well, rugby has gone well and truly soft, to disallow that try for Faletau," wrote dual code Wales legend John Devereux.
"This is where rugby will fall behind and become stagnant. NFL would spread that all over social media and attract fans. Poor law that," wrote one rugby fan.
"We have found the worst law in rugby for that Wales try to be disallowed. Meanwhile, NFL showcases the play of the season being Saquon Barkley jumping backwards over a tackler. What a joke," wrote another.
Meanwhile, in the southern hemisphere over the weekend, Moana Pasifika scored a stunning try in Super Rugby with a player jumping over a tackle in the process of assisting the try. The score was allowed and the moment was praised by the commentary team. Watch below.
Others have simply argued for more continuity in the application of the law, with footage being posted of France star Antoine Dupont jumping to avoid a tackle in the Top 14 two years ago. See below.
I think the feeling is that the laws are not always applied equitably, depending on the perceived standard of the team/player involved.
Neither try should have stood.
See below from DuPont in 2023: pic.twitter.com/kGisDmoPGo
— Legally Rugby (@LegallyRugby) March 9, 2025
Wales would eventually get their try against Scotland, but unfortunately it was too little, too late. Gloucester centre Max Llewellyn crashed over on 84 minutes, with Jarrod Evans slotting the conversion to secure a losing bonus point.
