World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin. (Oisin Kennily – World Rugby, Getty Images)
- An Australian man has been charged with abusing match officials online during last year's Rugby World Cup.
- The man will be fined and banned from all World Rugby events.
- World Rugby chief executive Alan Gilpin welcomed the result and said he hoped it would “send a very strong message to online trolls”.
- For more rugby news, click here. Specified section.
World Rugby has hailed a “milestone” after an Australian man was charged with targeting match officials and their families online during last year's World Cup in France.
The Rugby Union said it was the first prosecution for online hate at the 2023 World Cup and that “further proceedings are pending across five jurisdictions”.
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The man, identified by Australian media as Brisbane youth worker Aaron Isaiah, pleaded guilty to online harassment charges on Monday and was given a 1,000 Australian dollar ($650, R12,000) good behavior bond.
He will also be banned from participating in all World Rugby events.
“World Rugby welcomes this milestone result,” CEO Alan Gilpin said in a statement.
“Vile and harmful abuse is an all-too-common occurrence for many men, women and celebrities in sports.
“We hope this sends a very strong message to online trolls that such behavior is completely unacceptable and that the sporting world and authorities are prepared to take action.”
New Zealand-born Isaiah, 22, sent threatening and abusive messages via Facebook to a TV match official (TMO) and his wife during the World Cup.
He was tracked by World Rugby's online abuse program, which supports match officials and their families.
Separately, Wayne Barnes, who refereed the World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand in Paris, also reportedly received death threats afterward, as did TMO Tom Foley.
