We’re lucky to have in the Premiership an outstanding set of referees, but there are some areas where I wish they’d tighten up. Law 6.5.a says ‘The referee is the sole judge of fact and of law during a match’. I recently heard a ref saying to a player who enquired about something, “It wasn’t my decision”, and that is just so wrong.
I’m a huge fan of the assistants playing an active role, and the TMO, but to misquote Margaret Thatcher, advisers advise, referee’s decide. If the ref makes a decision, then it’s his decision, and to abrogate his responsibility is unacceptable.
No one knows the laws of the game better than elite referees, so it’s time they stopped selectively ignoring them. A perfect example is the way they insist on coaching players, when they should be penalising them. At almost every ruck, a defending player will step over the offside line – it’s a deliberate ploy to buy a second or two. What you’ll often hear is ‘back’, followed by ‘thank you’. What that actually means is that they’ve cheated, but have been allowed to get away with it.
Denne historien er fra January 03, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra January 03, 2021-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Ten-try Chiefs show Pirates no mercy
TEN-TRY Exeter inflicted the backlash from six successive defeats in their worst ever start to a Premiership season on a young Pirates side suffering their own problems in the Championship.
South America look to keep on building
AS Sebastián Piñeyrúa's historic six-year term as President of Rugby Sudamérica comes to an end, his replacement shows no signs of slowing down.
Scarratt excited by new pathway
ENGLAND centurion Emily Scarratt is delighted with the new women's BUCS programme which aims to provide a smoother pathway for young aspiring female players.
Baxter: I want to make things better
ROB Baxter will not be walking away from Exeter, the only club still looking for a Premiership victory this season, believing he can get the Chiefs back on track and he cannot bear the thought of anyone else doing the job.
Pearce walks in his father's footsteps
PADDY Pearce is living a dream after emulating his father and great-uncle by playing for the club he supported as a boy, Bristol.
New England group will cause uncertainty
SO JUST when we thought that everything was getting sorted between the RFU, the clubs and players, a number of new agreements and a new group raises its head.
Galthie turns his sights to the future
FRANCE head coach Fabien Galthie offered the clearest hint yet of Les Bleus' future on Wednesday, when he released 19 players back F to their clubs for the ninth and final Top 14 round before the international break.
Gilmore has tightened up our defence - Anderson
CAMERON Anderson has hailed the impact made by defence coach Jason Gilmore, below, since he arrived at The Stoop in the summer.
Ampthill given 11-try lesson in class from Bath
BATH secured a thumping away success in the opening match of their Premiership Rugby Cup campaign against Ampthill at Dillingham Park.
New faces take the plaudits for Saints
NORTHAMPTON handed out a thorough lesson to a tame Leicester team in this one-sided East Midlands derby to launch the Premiership Cup.