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- Kenya beat Uruguay in an Olympic rugby sevens game at the Stade de France
- During the match, Uruguay’s Mateo Vinals tackled referee Paulo Duarte
- Vinals had wanted to tackle Samuel Asati but the ref was between them
Thursday’s rugby sevens clash between Kenya and Uruguay at the Paris Olympics witnessed an incredible moment as one of the players tackled the referee.
The hilarious incident occurred in the second half, just before Samuel Asati scored Kenya second of three tries.
As Asati picked up the ball and made a dart for the line, Uruguay’s Mateo Vinals launched himself towards his opponent.
Unfortunately for Vinals, Portuguese referee Paulo Duarte was between the players and it was therefore he who was floored by what was actually an excellent tackle.
The game was broadcast by the BBC and it left the commentary team stunned.
Uruguay’s Mateo Vinals (centre) tackled referee Paulo Duarte (second from right) instead of Kenya’s Samuel Asati (right) during a men’s game of rugby sevens at the Paris Olympics
Asati pictured leaping over the try line as ref Duarte (bottom left) watches on from the ground
Duarte had been floored moments earlier by a tackle that was seemingly intended for Asati
Vinals (third from left) tried to grab Asati (left) but got the ref instead with a fine lasso tackle
One commentator said: ‘I have never seen that before. I have never seen perfect execution of a lasso tackle on the referee.’
Kenya went on to win the game 19-14. This was effectively a semi-final match but neither side were in contention for medals.
Both teams had finished bottom of their respective groups and therefore entered a four-team knockout event to determine their final placings.
Kenya’s victory means that they will now face Samoa on Saturday to decide who gets the honour of finishing ninth, while Uruguay will take on Japan with those teams battling to avoid placing 12th and last.
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