Refereeing is ruining rugby

The demands made by the faceless lawmakers of the World Rugby, whoever they are, certainly ensure that correct decisions ensue, but there is no consideration given to the paying public, who are now attending games in ever-decreasing numbers. The more the paying public whinge and moan about their team getting the odd bad call, the more pressure they put on WR to ensure no mistakes are made, the more we get this nonsense. As fans it's time we took responsibility for the situation and made it clear we are happy to accept the odd mistake if it stops the game grinding to a halt for replays at a multitude of angles.

IMO the problem is they are trying to make Union completely lawyer proof. Once again it is about decisions made by anodyne management in their think-spaces strategising to build customer engagement and market brand awareness whilst minimising cross-product pollution to ensure strategic clarity. After a risk assessment offsite, they change the rules based on hypothetical extrapolation and statistical analysis to eventuate the minimisation of even the slightest risk of injury. By double-checking every decision with the VAR, it means they stay within their error range for their end of year KPI. If it causes the game to slow to a crawl and become unwatchable then that is just an unforeseen byproduct of a well-intended decision. Of course, the game needs to be as safe as possible but a dose of reality is needed. After a quick check with the experts (google), I discovered that "The risk of sustaining a catastrophic injury in rugby union was generally lower than or comparable with the levels reported for a wide range of other collision sports, such as ice hockey (4/100,000 per year), rugby league (2/100,000 per year) and American Football (2/100,000 per year). In addition, the risk of catastrophic injury in rugby union was comparable with that experienced by most people in work-based situations and lower than that experienced by motorcyclists, pedestrians and car occupants. " Every injury is one too many but if the powers that be want the sport to be 100% safe then maybe they should take up knitting with those little plastic covers over the pointy ends just to be sure and have someone to hold the wool wearing gloves to make sure nobody gets cut. TBH I have given up. It's now a game run by process and procedure rather than spirit and innovation. Now I find it more interesting to watch age-old repeats of cooking programs

refereeing is not ruining rugby. Having possibly every incident analysed and over analysed in slow motion, having 20 cameras at a game that can show an incident on the other side of the ruck that the referee cannot see, keyboard warriors, and the big $$ from professionalism has ruined rugby. A ref will be crucified if he makes a call without going to the video, if the video shows he got it wrong the keyboard abuse starts, along with potential big $$ missed out if the team did not win the game as a result of this one call.

I totally agree that refereeing is the source of rugby’s biggest problem. Declining support. We are not alone in our frustration in the way the on-field game is being managed. I hear it from the supporters I sit with in Super Rugby every week. The Lawmakers are killing the game and you would have to wonder in whose interest it is that this happening. Other sports are the beneficiary of Rugby’s poor governance and administration.

Time wasting is a blight on the game. Some of the Boks seemed to take it in turn to go down injured and to blow time out because a lock or backrower is putting his boot on is ridulous. Players dawdle getting to lineouts and scrums, more time wasting.

Sorry but Channel 9 and Stan have the rugby rights but 9 also has the right to league and it was a big game on Saturday night. That's why the Wallabies had the early game.

Well written Paul Completely agree. My father who is a dyed in the wool league supporter only watches test matches and complains about the constant stoppage for referees to chat. We all know the bloke with the whistle has a difficult role, but it tends to feel like that are looking for cover by group decision. One small example on the weekend was Koroibetes try in the 67nd minute. He was at least a metre from the sideline and the touch judge was standing right there but still want to send it upstairs to check for touch.

Paul, Thanks for the article. It is important that we dont blame the refs. They have to deal with the laws and processes they are given. I think there are 2 simple changes that would speed up the game with out major changes. 1. No stoppage for injuries, unless urgent medical attention is required, medicart must enter the field or the player is in danger of further injury (runover). 2. No stoppage for replacements. Why does the game have to be stopped for strategic replacements? Surely this doesnt need the ref to be involved. It could be managed by a match official with players entering the field behind the play.

So many inaccurate statements, it's not worth replying to.

I feel sorry for rugby referees at all levels of the game. It is one of the hardest sports to officiate. There is so much moving parts it is near impossible to see everything especially at the top level. I have refereed a few school games over the last decade and you do need a real thick skin as a ref. You get comments from players, coaches and fans about how you should be officiating. At the top level there has become an over-reliance on the TMO and I think a lot of referees are second guessing themselves. The laws of the game do not help either. We just need to look at the Jordie Barrett red card the other week. To the letter of the law that is the correct ruling then the governing body recinders the red card. Remeber with out a ref, there is no game.

The refs constantly use the words'Use it' to keep the game flowing BUT then watch replys over and over - they should only have 15 seconds to review a decision!..Players have just 1/3 of a second to decide where to put their bodies before a tackle....yet refs get minutes to review it...WRONG!

Make Penalty only 2 points..! Stop the clock for every stoppage like AFL..!

That's the irony Morsie. You're much more likely to be injured as the tackler!

Yes good comments Englishbob and bored. At Cbus last week a lot of Kiwis left after their AB's had finished the 1st game. We can deal with the referee blowing the pea out of the whistle if the game keeps moving but truly the video referee is destroying the game. Why do they watch 15 replays when more often than not two or three show clearly what happened. It is so slow. And so boring. And yet after that we still often get bizarre decisions that mystify anyone who has played the game...

TV Ratings last Saturday Night, #NRLPanthersEels 1,522,000 Nine Saturday 1,080,000 (Metro 690,000 Regional 390,000) Fox League 442,000 Australia v South Africa 9Gem 464,000 (Metro 336,000 Regional 128,000) Note, No Stan figures available Why did not the powers schedule the Rugby to Sunday? No NRL or AFL opposition, crowds the same, but surely a much larger TV audience.

Unfortunately our game is becoming more like NFL plain boring to watch filled with stoppages every few minutes constant interruptions from refs who control the game.. please IRB open your eyes and let our game flow take away the power of the ref and TMO crazy stuff!

Actually league and afl tv viewing are almost identical with the afl getting higher fta ratings and the league dominating Fox. Whether you like it or not, when given the choice more people prefer to watch league than Union. I’m sorry these facts don’t suit your narrative. On a personal level I much prefer watching league for the action intensity and athleticism. I wouldn’t never have played it though it but I certainly thoroughly enjoyed my 25 years playing rugby at senior levels. They are my fondest sporting memories. But if it’s a beer on Saturday night and a choice of watching league or Union it’s no contest. Go sharks!

GE I concur. I have said for years to make the penalty a 1 point only advantage it would make players play knowing that they have to and any player caught rorting the one point penalty is off for ten ,no questions allowed ,no reviews, strictly a refs decision. As for the rest of your comments can you apply for a job with WR and show them a few things.

Too kind

As a sports fan who grew up playing Rugby but long ago migrated to Australian Rules, I think this article has it spot on. All football codes that rely on handling the ball have a problem when the ball is lost and possession is contested. The rules have to resolve what would otherwise just be a massive wrestling match. League does it by stopping play after every tackle to play the ball. It stops mauling but breaks up the contest and is repetitive. AFL with no offside or knock ons allows the ball to be knocked out or hand balled or kicked which mostly keeps play going. Of all codes it most allows for the randomness of a bouncing oval ball and so reduces stoppages so that players can get on with the business of running with the ball, kicking and marking. Union settles for a highly codified contest once a tackle is made. I prefer that to the League option but the problem is that it is so easy to stop or spoil possession that a myriad of rules have been devised, theoretically to stop unfair advantage. But the cure is worse than the illness. Exasperating technical penalties abound and increased time is taken to review decisions. An inherently exciting sport is becoming unwatchable. Some suggestions. Reduce the rules around the breakdown to only address blatant cheating. Make a strict and brief time limit to set and clear the ball from scrums and line outs. Exceeding the time limit would mean a tap kick possession immediately going to the other side. Eliminate all scrum resets except where absolutely necessary. Do away with technical scrum penalties. Rugby is the the only game I know of where strength or technique errors ( as opposed to playing outside the rules) is penalised. The recent campaign on head contact is necessary but should not be dragged out for so long. Overall the rules need serious streamlining.