Rugby, referees and 2015: What it’s going to be?
View(s):My New Year wish is that rugby fans will remember the laughter and the joy that rugby has brought during last year and think of the new ones to come.
Like birds, let us, leave behind what we do not need to carry and enjoy the New Year 2015 as a beautiful year of rugby. Unlike birds we humans find it difficult to leave behind what they do not need to carry.
“It is good to have a game in Sri Lanka as the exposure is different. But if you don’t give these games to your local referees when will they get the exposure,” was the view of an international referee - File pic
The need in the coming year 2015 is for rugby to move forward and not sideways. It is like a maul that needs to move forward if there is not going to be a turnover. On the field you see the maul moving sideways and people wonder why there was a turnover. To go forward is one thing and to go sideways is another. The question is what it takes for you to reach the goal line. The dummy is a good ploy to strike a goal. Though the ball cannot be always passed you cannot always sell a dummy and live by it. Similarly the game has it rules to abide by and has no place for uncontrolled mayhem.
This management requires a rugby hierarchy that can administer the game with the ultimate objective of national rugby and not be swayed by club partiality or other considerations. When this happens like in the case of not having faith in referees the followers for good or bad reason take the upper hand.
This has been evident this year with request coming often to change referees as published through statements in the media. It is sad when managers walk into the dressing room to say we do not want you to referee.
This leads to other issues and even to abuse and can get out of hand. In governance as preached by World Rugby (IRB) the most important issue in abuse to look and safeguard the referee. The issue of skills is another matter as abuse is not tolerated whatever form it comes.
In a much short termed vision the Union has supplemented the local game by importing referees. But it appears that there is a desire that seem to be unable to be satisfied as we see even the visiting referees being considered not good enough.
I read a post in the social media asking the Union as to from where these non competent referees were flown in. When we refer to a person who at the has refereed in test matches and super twelve’s until early this year in such terms I wonder whether our rugby is above world class that even a referee who has been refereeing at the elite level not good enough for Sri Lanka?
The match played at the Park between Havelocks and Navy saw good rugby and lot of ball movement and runs around the park. The referee concentrated on quick ball at break down as well as letting go of issues that were not material. But for our experts this too is not good enough.
This match and the Havelock’s Kandy match was in the hands of Garret Williamson a New Zealander who was a test and super twelve referee up until early this year. Most thought had a good game and most thought there was a flow of rugby. It appears that rugby fans in Sri Lanka does not consider any referee a favourite relative whether it be a local or visiting .
The schools season expected to begin with the sevens in the last week of January and the league billed for March. May be once again there will be bashing of referees. I wonder whether there will be calls for imported referees.
A referee from the Asian Panel who I have met while I have been on assignment as a coach with ARFU quipped; “it is good to have a game in Sri Lanka as the exposure is different. But if you don’t give these games to your local referees when will they get the exposure.”
The Secretary of the schools section Susantha Mendis when asked said that they want to have more quality in competitions. As a first step the sevens will be at a provincial base and schools selected to play in the main seven tournaments in Division 1 as well as in Division 2. They believe that it will be a better game for the established schools and equal competition for the newcomers who will find their feet in water that they can swim in.
The schools section also hopes to bring in a system where coaches will need to be licensed. They hope that this will lead to more discipline and will help the game. The boys have to be handled by competent. It is their view that a licensing process will help.
This will also help in bringing discipline to manage the bench who abuse referees. The way forward is a more disciplined approach says the pedagogues. Mendis also explained that they hope to talk to the Union, about the licensing process. They are of the opinion that it is the Union that can affect a system to license. The main point I see is the will of the schools section to structure junior rugby and their being willing to talk to the Union to effect their expectations.
They are also positive in handling referee abuse in the year 2015 and the licensing process is one area they have in mind. They will be many to criticize the proposals but it is not all about protecting the match officials it is about respect and discipline in moulding the younger generation as Mendis explained.
Vimal Perera is a former Rugby Referee, coach and Accredited Referees Evaluator IRB