Irish referee Alain Rolland is at the heart of a major controversy after sending off Welsh captain Sam Warburton the first half of the Rugby World Cup semi final between France and Wales.

France went on to win the game by 9 -8 but the absence of Warburton was the critical turning point.

Wales and most pundits were furious afterwards at the sending off which was considered very harsh.

Rolland is of French ancestry as his father hails from there and he speaks fluent French.

He was capped three times for Ireland and is a mortgage broker and banker.