THE referee at the heart of Mack Hansen’s disciplinary breach is set to retire from professional rugby, it’s been reported.
First reported by The 42, Chris Busby is purportedly planning on hanging up his whistle in the near future.
The official is due to take charge of Sunday’s Champions Cup pool encounter between Bath and Clermont.
However, that is expected to be his last outing before choosing to step away from the sport.
Busby was drawn into a media storm in the wake of Mack Hansen’s criticism of his performance in Connacht’s defeat to Leinster at the Aviva Stadium last month.
On Thursday a disciplinary hearing concluded with the Ireland winger being slapped with a six-match ban – the final three of which are suspended.
He immediately released a statement in which he held his hands up and accepted he had crossed a line in a post-match press conference where he expressed that it felt like they had been playing against ’16 men’.
The 26-year-old said: “People know I always wear my heart on my sleeve.
“However after the Leinster game, on this occasion, I let my emotions get the better of me.
“Upon reflection, my comments to the media were ill-advised, and fell far short of the standards I expect of myself, and what the sport expects of its players.
“I want to offer an apology to the match officials for any distress my comments may have caused.
“Our games are built on mutual respect and I didn’t show that after the game.
“I also want to apologise to the URC, and I fully accept the findings of the independent disciplinary panel.
“I love Connacht, and I love rugby.
“Moving forward, I will channel all my energy and passion into representing my province and country to the absolute best of my ability – both on and off the field.”
Connacht Rugby did not make any further comment after being handed a suspended €10,000 fine.
In addition to the suspension, Hansen has been told to make a full apology to Busby.
He will also undertake an appropriate course as decided by URC Head of Match Officials Tappe Henning and IRFU Head of Referees Dudley Phillips.
Connacht Rugby will also have to run an education session with their players about how to conduct themselves in post-match media sessions and interactions with the media.
As a result of the suspension, Hansen will miss the Challenge Cup games against Lyon and Cardiff (January 11 and 17) and the URC clash against Glasgow Warriors (January 24).
However, he will not miss any of Ireland’s Six Nations games.
