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I have been wondering where Craig Joubert had gone since the 2015 Rugby World Cup controversy that saw him run from the field after the quarter-final between the Wallabies and Scotland.
Well, I found him.
I’m happy to say he has popped up in Dubai at the first round of the World Sevens series. I have no idea where he went, but I would have run and hid until the heat subsided too.
The northern hemisphere media was particularly scathing of his performance, as was his employer, World Rugby. No one could blame him for hiding away for a while.
I posted my opinion of the poor treatment he received from World Rugby here on The Roar.
They threw him out with the bath water when we all know how hard it is to referee under the immense pressure of the international stage. It was a strange move from World Rugby given that it’s hard to attract people to the refereeing ranks. It didn’t set the best example of the support officials need.
Whether or not Joubert’s call against Scotland was right or wrong – much of the analysis points to the latter – his subsequent treatment was the only negative moment of an otherwise amazing tournament.
Previously I have been critical of Joubert’s style and rigid letter of the law officiating. However since the World Cup, and thinking much more on it, I have become more understanding towards our friends with the whistle.
So where has Joubert been?
He hadn’t shown up refereeing in any of the European competitions in Ireland, England or France. That is not that unusual for southern hemisphere referees, however.
Listening closely to the grape vine as always, the mail was he would be refereeing matches at the Six Nations next year. This would make sense, particularly since he is one of top referees in the game. It had also been mentioned that since the World Cup he might not referee that tournament for fear of northern hemisphere wrath. We will wait and see.
There have been no international rugby Tests since the World Cup so the best guess is he was enjoying a well-earned holiday. What better place to end your holiday than in Dubai during the first round of the World Sevens Series.
Officiating his 107th Rugby Sevens match, Joubert controlled his first match in his typical style. It’s very obvious when Sevens rugby is over-officiated as it exists to allow free running rugby. There was no such thing going on in this game.
The most interesting note of Joubert’s re-emergence on the public scene was the team he would be officiating. The humour of random allocation was obviously at play with Scotland running out onto the field. The 15-a-side and seven-a-side squads are mostly made up of different players but the collective hearts of Scotland had been attacked by Joubert at the World Cup.
A tight and even affair ensued much like most good Sevens rugby I’ve seen. The game came right down to the last play where Scotland received a short-arm penalty at a scrum after full-time in Russia’s half.
Some scrambled cut-out passes and sideways and backwards running eventually ended in a wide pass and a winning try – not really to the letter of the previous match Joubert officiated for Scotland.
I’m happy Joubert is back on the wagon refereeing international rugby, even if it is at the sport’s little brother. Sevens may well be the best place to keep the heat off and take advantage of the next possibility for Joubert and for international rugby.
The coming year is one of change and growth for rugby. They say things happen for a reason. Maybe a gold medal final match at the Rio Olympic Games was Joubert’s goal all along?
Scotland got up against Russia 17-14.
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.