It is time for referees to be held publicly accountable. Our players and coaches are, so why not refs?
Why is there this closed door mentality by referee bodies to protect their refereeing actions by silence?
Surely they too should front up to a media after game conference and be quizzed over their actions of the game.
There appears to be at lot of differences in interpretation between the northern and southern hemispheres.
Players have an after game conference, referees should be subject to the same scrutiny.
We need an explanation as to why some rules were being enforced more pedantically than others, and more specifically, why different hemisphere refs do things differently.
The other advantage is that the fan would get to learn more about the referee and his personality.
By including the assistant referees into the question time panel, it would provide a much better understanding as to the reasoning why a decision was made.
It could be a way to have explained publicly what the hierarchy has determined to be the focus of the match officials.
By opening the doors to understanding it defuses much of the confusion.
The panel should have the same option to decline replies to questions being asked that are inappropriate or vindictively personal and answer only questions about the game and how it was managed.
Naturally there will be questions about why many of the calls during the game were considered mysterious, misinterpreted or misunderstood.
A forthcoming explanation from the panel would overcome much of the ‘finger pointing’ that follows many matches.
Currently, the referee associations and associated bodies have an attitude of “neither confirm nor deny” when it comes to controversial rulings in the game. The IRB are opaque on the issue.
In the modern game, this lack of transparency is not good enough.
It is time for referees to remove the secret society attitude, front up and deliver.
Whether they believe it or not, they too, are players in the game.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
The Tahs won 50-14 after going through the 2024 season undefeated and avenging the semi-final loss last year to Fijian Drua.
Jeniffer Ravutia lashed out with her foot while a Waratahs opponent was lying on the ground, and picked up her second yellow of the…
NSW was expecting the driving maul, but Karalaini Naisewa wrapped around the back and over to cut the lead to three points.
It was the Drua's first points of the game at the half-hour mark - but Miller more than made up for the infringement with…
A hat-trick to Desiree Miller and a double to her wing partner Maya Stewart has seen the Waratahs deny the Fijiana Drua a three-peat,…
After being yellow-carded by referee Karl Dickson in the first half, the official looked to be reaching for his pocket when Danny Care contentiously…
