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FORUM / RUGBY /  The standard of Referees in Rugby

The standard of Referees in Rugby

Started by sharkbok0 REPLIES164 VIEWS· 20 Oct 2012, 08:14
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sharkbok
sharkbok
Captain23,301 posts
sharkbok
sharkbokCaptain23,301 posts
20 Oct 2012, 08:14
#1
20 Oct 2012, 08:14#1

 

When rugby game professional, referess stil remain in the amateur era.

New Zealanders are crowing about how SA are complaining about getting knocked

out of the worlcup by Bryce Lawrence. however they done exacty the same thing in 2007

when getting knocked out by France.

The coach Graeme Henry even suggested in his autobiograhpy that it may have been match

fixing. Just like our coach of the time PDV suggested after the game. 

 

 

 

 

Generally speaking the standard of Referees in World Rugby is poor when

assesing individual performances. However the problem lies deeper than the

individuals, it is the standard of the Panel Body that is poor. Their is not one

consistent application of the laws, especially at setpieces and rucks. 

Court Law has precedence, which is past interpretation as the basis of application of law.

This is how consistent application of law is made possibale.

Northern Hemishpere referress are more trigger happy with the whistle,

whilst Southern hemisphere referees try to let the game have more continuity

and multi-phase rugby. Northern Hemishpere referees seem to allow players to

enter rucks from the side, when the law clearly states that entering a ruck needs to

from behind the eightmans feet. This does not make sense. 

Then different referees in the south and northern hemishperes are known

for different applications of the laws. 

There should be one global standard for all refereees, that is applied riggoursly

to measure the performance of individual referees. A referee should have

no influence on the game, other than theirapplication of a single standard of the laws. 

 

GIven that most of the best referees are from South Africa, it would make

sense to have the headquarters and head referee here. Then define a

global constition of rugby law and how can be applied consistently on the field.

Until such time that referees become professional with one global standard being

applied in the application of laws, fans will be frustrated, coaches and players will try to

cheat the law based on individual referree interprations. 

 

 

 

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IRB International Referees Panel From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia     International Rugby Board Referees Panel

The International Rugby Board (IRB) International Referees Panel is a group of elite rugby union referees appointed by the IRB to officiate in international matches, usually those involving the top tier rugby nations from around the world.

The panel was established to ensure that matches between the best international teams are handled by the best referees. Neutral referees have been the current trend from the IRB's busy appointments schedule. For the 2009 British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa they were tempted to try the system seeing as the majority of the referees come from Ireland, England, Wales and South Africa.

The referees on this panel have developed through the game of 7's and Super 14, French, English, Irish and Welsh national leagues respectively.

These referees are regarded as the best in the world. They are employed by their home unions and the IRB. They are expected to ensure that their fitness is kept up to the minimum IRB fitness standards.

The IRB referees manager is currently Paddy O'Brien. O'Brien is a former referee who refereed semi-finals at the 2003 Rugby World Cup and also was the touch judge in the final.

Contents   [hide] 

[edit]Current members

The current members of the elite panel[1] are referees highly regarded by the IRB and their referee selectors. Four of the referees come from South Africa, the most from any country. England, France, Ireland and New Zealand each have three. Australia has two and Wales has one.[2]

The major surprise is that Scotland, an original founding union, does not have a referee on the panel. However, it does have Peter Allan on the development panel.[2]

The current panel are in alphabetical order, not ranking wise.[2]

The most experienced referees are Dickinson and Kaplan, both having refereed at three (Dickinson) and two (Kaplan) [3] World Cups respectively.

Alain Rolland refereed the 2007 Rugby World Cup Final which was held in France.[4]

South Africa's Craig Joubert refereed the 2011 Rugby World Cup Final in New Zealand.

[edit]Referee Selectors and assessors

The referee selectors and coaches are each appointed by the IRB.

[edit]Referee Selectors

Steve Hilditch of Ireland is the head of the selectors.

- Steve Hilditch
- Tappe Henning
- Michael Lamoullie
- Bob Francis

[edit]Assessors

A lot of the referee assessors are former IRB referees. These assessors simply judge the referees performance, they do not select them. All reports are forwarded to the IRB selectors.
- Scott Young
- Andrew Cole
- Patrick Robin
- Paul Bridgman
- Brian Stirling
- Tony Spreadbury
- Ed Morrisson

[edit]Controversy

During 2009 and other seasons the referees and the IRB alike have been criticized heavily for their under performing of referees in test matches and even their behaviour off the field.

[edit]Wayne Barnes

In April 2007, it was announced that Barnes would be one of three English referees at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, the others being Chris White and Tony Spreadbury. After New Zealand was knocked out of the quarter-final Bebo profiles were created by some New Zealand fans dedicated to criticising Wayne Barnes refereeing performance.[5]Comments there and at other internet sites that included personal abuse were condemned by the International Rugby Board and then New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark.

[edit]Steve Walsh

Steve Walsh had his contract torn up the NZRU for disciplinary reasons.[6][7] He was furthermore taken off the IRB referees panel. Later on in the year Walsh announced he was to continue refereeing in Australia, where he took part in the 2010 Super 14 as a referee as an Australian. Walsh refereed the Tooheys New NSW First Grade Semi Final, and was narrowly beaten to the final by IRB member Stuart Dickinson, where Walsh was the reserve referee.

[edit]Bryce Lawrence

Bryce Lawrence was selected to referee in the first British and Irish Lions test match against South Africa. In the 2nd British and Irish Lions test match he was acting as an assistant referee. 30 seconds into the match Schalk Burger recklessly eye gouged Lions winger Luke Fitzgerald. Lawrence saw the incident and duly recommended a yellow card to referee Christophe Berdos. Burger received an 8 week ban for the incident.[8]

[edit]Stuart Dickinson and Paddy O'Brien

On November 14, Stuart Dickinson refereed the Italy versus New Zealand match at the San Siro Stadium. The game had continuous scrum resets which ended in Dickinson yellow carding the All Blacks Neemia Tialata. The Italian management were saying what a poor job he did not giving the Italian team a penalty try. While the All Blacks coaching staff despite the win, heavily criticized saying that Italy were the fault and were using illegal tactics. Paddy O'Brien the IRB referees manager set the precedent and flew to New Zealand team hotel which had never been done before and apologised to NZ management saying Dickinson got it completely wrong.[9]

This led to outrage by the Australian Rugby Union, who issued a formal complaint to the IRB against Paddy O'Brien.[10] O'Brien ended up apologising to Stuart Dickinson and the Australian Rugby Union.[11]

“I have unreservedly apologised to Stuart Dickinson for the action of publicly discussing elements of his performance review and would like to extend that apology to the Australian Rugby Union," said O'Brien.

“A clear and confidential best practice protocol exists for match official appraisal and feedback involving all stakeholders and I regret breaching this protocol. “The IRB has in place a dedicated High Performance structure for the development of international referees and works hard with its Member Unions to identify up and coming talent and promote consistency at all levels of the Game. “Team management are also offered the opportunity to meet with the referee prior to a match or arrange a meeting with a performance reviewer or myself – this is normal practice. “Again I would like to apologise to Stuart and the ARU for the public nature of the comments that I made."

Dickinson in the 2010 6 Nations tournament has not received an appointment for the first time since 2000. The ARU have sought a meeting with Paddy O'Brien to discuss these latest turn of events after O'Brien chose not to publicly appraise referees after they have a bad game. It is understood the meeting has been kept under closed doors.

The integration of more stringent game management procedures and referee coaching practices are now considered of greater importance within international rugby unions.

[edit]Former Members of the Elite Panel

[edit]2007 Rugby World Cup

The 2007 referees for the Rugby World Cup were based on merit. The IRB consisting of the selectors and Paddy O'Brien selected 12 referees to referee at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. They also picked a panel of assistant referees and TMO's. Many of the referees who have refereed at this world cup have now retired.

Mark Lawrence was a notable exception. It was judged that Marius Jonker was the better referee at the time. Mark Lawrence has in recent times been selected to referee more high profile international games and is rated by many as one of the leading international referees.

The 2007 Rugby World Cup Referees

[edit]2011 Rugby World Cup

The 2011 referees for the Rugby World Cup were also based on merit, judged on the previous 4 years. The IRB consisting of the selectors and Paddy O'Brien selected 10 referees to referee at the 2011 Rugby World Cup: fewer than ever. This was to give match officials more game time during the tournament, and help the selectors to pick the best officials for the knockout stage.

Mark Lawrence and Alan Lewis were both overlooked for this tournament, Lawrence unlucky to be overlooked for successive tournaments.[17]

The 2011 Rugby World Cup Referees

The 2011 Rugby World Cup Assistant Referees

  • Chris Pollock (New Zealand) - reserve referee
  • Jérôme Garcès (France) - reserve referee
  • Simon McDowell (Ireland)
  • Tim Hayes (Wales)
  • Stuart Terheege (England)
  • Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
  • Carlo Damasco (Italy)

The 2011 Rugby World Cup TMO Panel

  • Graham Hughes (England)
  • Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
  • Matt Goddard (Australia)
  • Giulio De Santis (Italy)

[edit]Sponsorship and Uniform Supply

Emirates Airlines is the sponsor of the IRB referees, they also sponsor the ICC Elite Umpires Panel. The IRB has 3 refereeing strips—orange, blue, and white, all supplied byCanterbury. Each different colour of strip is used in all different games to avoid colour clashes and confusion among the players. Some referees have football boot brands sponsoring them.

[edit]References

  1. ^ IRB referees panel
  2. ^ a b c Sareferees.co.za
  3. ^ Southafrica.info
  4. ^ Dailymail.co.uk
  5. ^ "Ref faces backlash as 'pampered' ABs, not Henry, take the blame". The New Zealand Herald. 8 October 2007. Retrieved 2 December 2011.
  6. ^ Referee sacked ahead of Grand Slam clash - International, Rugby Union - The Independent
  7. ^ NZ Herald: Walsh retires under employment cloud
  8. ^ Mairs, Gavin (29 June 2009). "Lions 2009: Schalk Burger banned for eight weeks for gouging, Bakkies Botha receives two-week ban". The Telegraph. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  9. ^ Hinton, Marc (18 November 2009). "All Blacks get Paddy O'Brien referee apology". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 5 October 2011.
  10. ^ Rugby.com.au ARU concerned by Criticism of Dickinson
  11. ^ Rugby.co.au O'Brien apology to Dickinson
  12. ^ Alan Lewis Announces Retirement From Refereeing
  13. ^ Sareferees.co.za Matt Goddard retires
  14. ^ IRB.com Joel Jutge retires
  15. ^ Nigel Whitehouse retires
  16. ^ "IRB announces match official appointments". IRB.com. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 4 April 2010.
  17. ^ RWC 2011 Match Officials

[edit]External links

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