I’ve been thinking about the referee siutation in Rugby. Referees, video referees, and linesmen are a touchy subject. I’ve seen a few ideas being floated such as Henry’s substitute-ref idea, dual referees, and so on. I would like to add one more: status quo but with enhanced video referee powers.
Firstly, let me state that I believe in a system with one on-field referee, with the ability to give a final decision as sacrosanct.
However, I believe the referee could be significantly aided by having a video referee, or referees who act in much the same way as the touch judges are meant to; that is, to raise flags and provide information to the referee.
Where I would like the video referee’s powers to be extended, however, is the ability to send messages to the on-field referee ‘live’ in instances which warrant it, and a second type of message akin to the linesman’s ‘flag out’.
The ‘live’ message, let’s call it a level 1 message, would be sent when, and only when, there has been an incident that goes unnoticed by the on-field referee, and is of such severity as to greatly impact the result of the game, or is dangerous. This type of message would interrupt the on-field referee and cause him to stop the game.
The ‘flag out’ type message, let’s call it a level 2 message, would be sent during a break or pause in the game and would not interrupt the game.
Level 1 type incidents which have not been seen by the on-field referee and warrant stopping the game: head high tackle, eye gouging, punch to the balls, blatant forward pass which preceded a try scored (within the last six passes or so), player held back which either prevented a try from being scored or prevented the defence of a try, severe scrum infringements, and so on.
Level 2 type incidents which the video referee would like to inform the on-field ref of, but do not warrant the immediate stoppage of the game: consistent offside by players, deliberate illegal acts by players which are putting their opposition at a disadvantage, minor skirmishes, accidental high tackles that deserve a warning but nothing more, scrum infringements that deserve mention but are not materially affecting the current scrum, etc.
The on-field referee would receive the messages on a wrist band-type device with a vibrating alarm and would be audible through the earpiece setup.
Level 1 messages would allow the video ref to talk to the on-field ref immediately and tell him to blow the whistle.
Level 2 messages would just ‘sit there’ like an sms and the on-field ref could communicate with the video ref at his moment of choosing.
Cameras angles should cover both sides of the scrum and be done such that sufficient clarity is given to the video referee to act as a partner to the on-field ref; ie, police the side that the on-field referee cannot see.
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