OK folks - here's another chance to pose questions to our (now) resident expert on refereeing. If you have a query, or you generally 'just don't get it' then post a question here. Gary will answer. (He doesn't know that yet :¬) )
Just as a taster, he had the temerity to take me on at what it's all about. Tsk, tsk. I watched telly for ages this weekend and he has been reffing, after injury curtailed a very successful playing career, for flipping ages. Now, honestly, who would you take notice of?
Here's the first of his comments which I think deserves to be an article - hopefully to 'open the floor' to more questions.
(Prize for anyone who can break through Gary's defensive line...)
Hi Martin
Firstly well done for setting this up, makes me all misty eyed about many happy trips to Paris with OGRFC.
It's now over 10 years since I moved north of the border and since I got injured I have been ref'ing - not the same joy as playing but it still keeps you on the park on a saturday afternoon and lets 30 guys have a game of rugby.
Reading your post on refereeing I felt compelled to add my thoughts, admittedly from a slightly different perspective of now having blown a whistle for a number of years here in Scotland and elsewhere.
Your first "note to Ref's" suggests a rule of 10 paces for advantage, at the moment the law book says that a team has to gain either a terriotorial or tactical advantage, the referee's are given clear guideline about how to apply that, and it certainly depends on whether the advantage is being played from a penalty or technical offence. Sure some referee's will apply a slightly different view in the heat of a game - but how often do you see players droping a ball on purpose or the players just asking for the penalty. I think if you try to apply a rule that says if a player moves more than 10 paces it's advantage over you'll end up with a more stilted game. Certainly it is a fact that some great tries are scored off advantage. I think it is best to give the ref some latitude as on the whole we get a better game. Make it hard and fast and, in my humble opinion, you'll end up with a less exciting game. Just look at the very small advantage applied in Football - I know which I prefer.
Interesting thought about using the TMO on foul play, I think they did something with that during the super 14 - not sure how successful it was, I would think it just adds to a greater number of breaks during the game - enough people complain about the time TMO's take to decide on try's - is the current method of a Citing commissioner and the right of a team to cite a player after the game not the best way? Certainly the game is "cleaner" than it was.
Finally you ask for consistency from ref's. From my own experience I have never met a ref who isn't taking part from a genuine enjoyment of the game who is wanting to officiate on the game in a fair and consistent manner - do they get it right all the time? no. After all they are human as well and don't forget that they have one perspective on every incident and a moment to make a decision. Certainly not the multiple angles and time to consider every decision, unlike Stuart Barnes, who still manages to show the most unbelievable lack of knowledge of the laws of the game - don't listen to him, I'll guarantee everyome of the 12 ref's at the world cup know the law and how to ref a game of rugby better than he does!!!! Brian Moore is the only commentator who has a good understanding, shame we don't get to listen to him.
Anyway, as you can see I've moved to the dark side and have become a defensive referee - how did that happen...
Keep up the good work and enjoy the World Cup - all the very best to all at WLRFC.
Greaat to hear from you, Gary, and glad you've elected to put something back into the game. Too few of us ever do.
I agree with everything you say about refereeing and the interpretation of the laws (but then, as an old mate of Mike Foxwell I Iwould, wouldn't I - or would I). I also agree with your comments on excellent Brian Moore and the dreadful Stuart Barnes. He's a rubbish commentator - and not only about the laws - and he could be a rubbish player at times. Not helped by his own inflated opinion of his talents. When he pauses a moment to get his brain into gear he is, however, a pretty good writer on the game in the Sunday Times
Posted by: Colin Dickins | 12 September 2007 at 01:19