WATCH | English ref Wayne Barnes penalises attacking team for 'causing' high tackle

Experienced English referee Wayne Barnes made headlines in a Premiership clash over the weekend when he penalised the team in possession for "causing" a high tackle.

Barnes ruled that Harlequins No 8 Alex Dombrandt was responsible for the high tackle of Leicester Tigers lock Calum Green on Quins prop Joe Marler.

Barnes ruled that Green had no chance of avoiding the high hit because Dombrandt had pushed his team-mate forward into contact.

Normally, referees would penalise the defender for making contact with the head of a ball carrier, with yellow and red cards often the order of the day.

But that wasn't the case on Saturday as Barnes made a call that can be described as out of the ordinary.

WATCH the incident in the video clip below:

Alex Dombrandt penalised here for pushing Joe Marler into contact ??The headshot from Green is made irrelevant as World Rugby want to clamp down on players pushing their teammates into contact!Thoughts?! #HARLvLEI #GallagherPrem pic.twitter.com/IjwbcKp9Yn

Harlequins won the match 26-20 at the Twickenham Stoop.

Leicester, though, remain top of the Premiership standings on 81 points, with Harlequins third on 72.

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