In the wake of some eyebrow-raising refereeing at Eden Park, Wallabies icon Michael Hooper has thrown a radical pitch to World Rugby: Let the bosses explain themselves. Instead of putting referees in the hot seat right after the game, Hooper proposes a cooler, calmer analysis at the beginning of a new week, where the head honchos clarify big decisions and outline the rationale behind each controversial call.
During an engaging session on the Between Two Posts podcast with rugby heavyweight Sonny Bill Williams, Hooper expressed his thoughts on the matter. "Not the referee," Hooper stated clearly, pushing instead for higher-ups in the referee hierarchy to step forward.
"I would actually like to see the referees' bosses come out on the Monday and explain the rulings – I think that would be a great piece of content,"
he suggested.
Hooper believes this move would not only foster transparency but also shield referees from undue criticism. "It's about accountability," he argued. "Just like players and coaches, referees make mistakes, but understanding the why and the how could really change our perspective as fans and players."
The idea stems from recent frustrations voiced by Australian fans and players alike, particularly following a series of contentious decisions in matches against the British and Irish Lions and Argentina. The climax of discontent was reached after referee Andrea Piardi's performance during the Wallabies' clash with the All Blacks, which ended in a 33-24 defeat for the Australians at the notoriously challenging Eden Park.
Hopper's advocacy for this change is about protecting referees by allowing World Rugby to take ownership of the decision-making process. "If a team performs poorly, what does a good coach do? He gets up and he takes ownership," Hooper pointed out. Williams, echoing Hooper's sentiments, added,
"Transparency removes all the negative energy and vibes."
Ultimately, Hooper's proposal calls for a shift in how the rugby world deals with the inevitable human element in officiating, aiming for a more understanding and informed dialogue around the decisions that can define games. This approach, according to Hooper, would not only clarify contentious decisions but also enhance the sport's integrity by openly addressing and learning from each misstep.
2,193 posts
In the wake of some eyebrow-raising refereeing at Eden Park, Wallabies icon Michael Hooper has thrown a radical pitch to World Rugby: Let the bosses explain themselves. Instead of putting referees in the hot seat right after the game, Hooper proposes a cooler, calmer analysis at the beginning of a new week, where the head honchos clarify big decisions and outline the rationale behind each controversial call.
During an engaging session on the Between Two Posts podcast with rugby heavyweight Sonny Bill Williams, Hooper expressed his thoughts on the matter. "Not the referee," Hooper stated clearly, pushing instead for higher-ups in the referee hierarchy to step forward.
"I would actually like to see the referees' bosses come out on the Monday and explain the rulings – I think that would be a great piece of content,"
he suggested.Hooper believes this move would not only foster transparency but also shield referees from undue criticism. "It's about accountability," he argued. "Just like players and coaches, referees make mistakes, but understanding the why and the how could really change our perspective as fans and players."
The idea stems from recent frustrations voiced by Australian fans and players alike, particularly following a series of contentious decisions in matches against the British and Irish Lions and Argentina. The climax of discontent was reached after referee Andrea Piardi's performance during the Wallabies' clash with the All Blacks, which ended in a 33-24 defeat for the Australians at the notoriously challenging Eden Park.
Hopper's advocacy for this change is about protecting referees by allowing World Rugby to take ownership of the decision-making process. "If a team performs poorly, what does a good coach do? He gets up and he takes ownership," Hooper pointed out. Williams, echoing Hooper's sentiments, added,
"Transparency removes all the negative energy and vibes."
Ultimately, Hooper's proposal calls for a shift in how the rugby world deals with the inevitable human element in officiating, aiming for a more understanding and informed dialogue around the decisions that can define games. This approach, according to Hooper, would not only clarify contentious decisions but also enhance the sport's integrity by openly addressing and learning from each misstep.