Big Five’, Some Innovations Already in Play and Several Law Changes Being Trialled at Stellenbosch
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In-touch with South African Referees Edition 1, 2012 www.sareferees.co.za Word of Mouse www.sareferees.co.za is among the most- followed rugby sites in the world. Now it’s been streamlined to make it easier than ever to find the info you’re looking for. he original South African Referees’ website was launched information but will be much easier to view and navigate on a almost five years ago, and its following has grown smaller screen, and will make keeping up to date with the latest Ttremendously thanks to the quality of the content and the referee news a cinch. frequency of updates, says referee manager André Watson. ‘At the heart of the success has been the dedication of the team responsible for keeping the content up to date – Paul Dobson and the guys from sportsmedia365.com,’ says André. ‘Paul is one of the most knowledgeable rugby men around and has connections spanning the globe. If anyone can put a good rugby story together, it’s Paul.’ The new site carries much of the same information but with several new features, including: • Recruitment taking a bigger slice of the important real estate at the top of the page • The popular Test yourself quiz making a welcome return • Ordering a Law book online made easier than ever before • Video clips categorised according to the Law they highlight • News categorised for easier review A mobi version is also under development, specifically suited for use by smartphones and tablets. This version carries the same South African A dream Calling in the refs step up to come true big guns Super Rugby Craig Joubert Craig Joubert Paddy’s Patch Paddy’s In this issue... pg 4 pg 11 pg 13 SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY REFEREE SOCIETY NEWSLETTER 1 In-touch Edition 1 2012 www.sareferees.co.za Watson my mind It’s going to be an interesting season, with greater emphasis by referees on the ‘Big Five’, some innovations already in play and several Law changes being trialled at Stellenbosch. Showing enthusiasm for the season ahead, André Watson demonstrates a new way to deal with the tackle bags at Konka. pectators often complain about the 50% and scrum penalties 13%. Importantly, should be welcomed. This applies equally to constant tweaking to the Laws of the scrum completions have increased from 50% the increased scope of the Television Match Sgame but they need to understand last year to above 65% so far. To put this Official, a development that’s hopefully going that this isn’t to keep referees amused but to another way, last year one out of every two to be introduced in our Currie Cup competition improve the game as an entertaining spectacle scrums collapsed, while this year one out of later this year pending a meeting of the Laws for rugby fans. It is important to know that most three does. Tries have increased by 2% in Project Group of the IRB in May in Dublin. if not all Law changes are driven by coaches Super Rugby and a whopping 13% in Varsity and players and not solely by referees. With Cup. I attribute the greater accuracy around The Law changes being trialled in Stellenbosch only 30-35 minutes of actual playing time at the scrum to referees paying more attention over the next few weeks (see story on page 12) the moment, administrators need to minimise to the set-up phase, better compliance by should give us a good idea of their impact on the parts that slow down play. It is further coaches and referees and, of course, the hard the game and whether it will be worthwhile to important to ensure the game remains safe, work done by our scrum consultant Balie introduce them at a higher and global level. fair and relatively easy to understand. That Swart. It’s an extremely technical area but Balie A huge amount of work is done by the Law said, we as referees do need to ensure that has been outstanding in the effort he’s put in to Project Group before a proposed amendment as far as humanly possible we get the on-field make it less of a mystery for referees in SA. makes it onto the field – rightly so, as changes decisions right. must improve the game. When Marius Jonker produced the first Early criticism that referees were too harsh has white card in Super Rugby, he introduced I feel we’re off to a good start in 2012. quietened down now that the match statistics an innovation that’s gaining traction and is Congratulations to our young refs who’re are coming out and indicating a smoother- something that may in fact be introduced making their mark on the world stage and to flowing game. There’s been a 7.5% decrease at Test level. At the top level, the stakes those many others who provide a valuable in penalty and free kicks compared to last are huge, and anything that we can do to service in the thousands of games played every season, free kicks from scrums have dropped improve the accuracy of on-field decisions week – keep up the good work! In-touch is produced by Imbongi Communications for the South African Rugby Referees’ Association. Imbongi Communications CC • PO Box 2198, Clareinch 7740 • Tel: +27 (0)21 671 9143 • Fax: +27 (0)21 683 0644 • Email: [email protected] • www.imbongisa.com All rights are reserved. Reproduction of this publication without the permission of SARRA is prohibited. For editorial contributions or more information contact: Cullum Johnston +27 (0)21 671 9143 or [email protected]. 22 www.sareferees.co.za In-touch Edition 1 2012 Referee shake-up at the IRB The International Rugby Board has had Chairperson’s message a fundamental shake-up of its refereeing I’m extremely proud to lead an structure, with changes to selection organisation that’s among the global processes and duty referees for the mid- leaders in its field. That’s not a boast, it’s a fact: South African rugby referees year Tier One Tests among other things. are among the best in the world, and ith its priority the continued promotion of consistency this is due to the talented people and performance, and its strategic goal to deliver we have taking up the whistle and Wthe best available referees for the Rugby World Cup the excellent structures and training 2015, the International Rugby Board has recently made some programmes we have in place. fundamental changes. Here are some of the significant achievements of the past few weeks: A four-man selection committee will now meet four times a year: Lyndon Bray and Tappe Henning (both SANZAR) and • Lourens van der Merwe not only made his Super Rugby debut but Donal Courtney and Clayton Thomas (both Six Nations and has also been appointed to do duty at the IRB Junior World Cup in European Rugby Cup) are all former Test referees who have June. stayed involved in refereeing administration. • Rasta Rasivhenge was appointed to an additional IRB7s in Hong Kong and had the privilege of refereeing the final. The group of referees doing duty at Tier One level during the • Two South Africans, Craig Joubert and Jaco Peyper, have been mid-year round of internationals has been announced, they appointed to referee Tier One nations during the mid-year round of are: George Clancy (Ireland), Jérôme Garcès (France), Craig internationals. Joubert (South Africa), Nigel Owens (Wales), Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Romain Poite (France), Alain Rolland (Ireland) and Steve Walsh (Australia). These achievements don’t come easy, and are a result of hours and hours of hard work and commitment. Hearty congratulations to all. And the IRB’s manager of referees, Paddy O’Brien, is to move from his present post to run Sevens referees. O’Brien, who To those members who did not get Tier One appointments this time has spent seven years as Referee Manager, will stay in his round, thanks for your loyal service over the years. There are many post until a replacement is found. among us who feel that you’re still among the world’s best. Acting chairman of the selection committee and IRB Council member for Scotland John Jeffrey said, ‘The IRB is committed The season has got off to a brisk start, and while there was concern that to ensuring that the platform is in place to promote the very referees were being overly harsh at the scrum and breakdown, things best refereeing standards at the elite level of the game. There seem to have settled and the game is flowing better. The work done will be consistent movement in and out of the group based by the Super Group at the beginning of the year, both at the Sanzar on form to reward the top performers and those making the session in Sydney and subsequently at the national camp in Konka, step up as we build towards RWC 2015 in England. In short, has contributed to our referees showing more consistency in how they this means that referees are appointed on merit, in-form and closer to the matches being played. All Member Unions are approach the game. Again, well done to them. All Panel referees have committed to this process, which is essential for its success.’ now been through their respective training camps and I’m looking forward to seeing them in action as the various competitions roll out. Jaco Peyper steps onto The Varsity Cup has again shown itself to be a great proving ground for the world stage referees, with the National Panel members stepping up to what’s mostly an outstanding brand of high-paced attacking rugby.