Rugby set to trial new refereeing innovations ahead of the World Cup, including a foul play review officer

Referees will be able to refer incidents of foul play to a specialist television official in this summer’s Rugby World Cup warm-up matches in one of a series of new innovations. 

The 20 teams who will be part of the tournament in France are busy preparing for its start in September with a series of games, the majority of which kick off in August, to come. 

European rugby’s top nations will all be part of the Summer Nations Series in which a number of trials will be used with the aim of improving support to the on-field referee. 

Chief among them will be the introduction of a trial which will allow the match official to refer any foul play incident where a red card is not clear to a dedicated `foul play review officer’ (FPRO).

If after two video replays the in-play officiating team is unable to determine whether an incident warrants a red card, then the referee will refer the incident to the FPRO. The player will then leave the field for 10 minutes.

World Rugby are set to introduce several new refereeing innovations that should help referees make more consistent decisions, while also ensuring the game continues to flow 

The most pertinent of those innovations includes the use of a specialist foul play television match official who on-field referees will be able to use to review contentious decisions  

It comes after Japan star Michael Leitch (second from right) was given a red card during their match against Samoa on Saturday after Mathieu Raynal referred the incident to the TMO 

The FPRO will have up to eight minutes to review the incident using all available technology and footage and determine the outcome.

The FPRO will then communicate the decision and the referee will either award the player a yellow card (and the player returns to the action following their 10-minute sin bin) or award a red card and the player stays off the field permanently and is unable to be replaced.

Incidents of foul play and players receiving red cards has been a huge debating point in rugby in the last 18 months or more.

As the sport continues to battle a concussion crisis, the message from rugby’s authorities has been that the protection of player welfare is paramount. 

But with a lack of consistency in decision making and some players having red cards rescinded after being sent off, there is confusion among all involved in the game as to what is and is not a sending off. 

Freddie Steward (second from left) was given a controversial red card for England in the Six Nations for this collision with Ireland’s Hugo Keenan

Steward was awarded a straight red card by referee Jaco Peyper in a controversial decision that split opinion 

For example, England full-back Freddie Steward was sent off against Ireland in the Six Nations but a disciplinary panel ruled the card should have been yellow and he served no ban. 

Clearing up such ambiguity ahead of the World Cup is paramount for World Rugby which is why these innovations are coming in.

Match officials will also benefit from Hawk-Eye technology this summer which will act as the video replay operator to support referees and enhance the accuracy of decision making. 

For fans in the stadiums and watching at home, shot clock, referee camera and smart ball match data will enhance their match-day experience.

Following a successful trial during this year’s Six Nations, the shot clock will be used again this summer.

It gives players 90 seconds to take a conversion and 60 seconds to take a penalty with the time counting down on screen in stadia and highlighted via broadcast coverage.

Among the innovations, referees will be able to use Hawk-Eye technology while shot clocks, referee cameras and smart ball match data will all be in use

Meanwhile, Dai Young has left Cardiff after he was suspended in April amid bullyingallegations

Dai Young leaves Cardiff 

Elsewhere, Cardiff Rugby have confirmed the departure of their director of rugby Dai Young. 

Mail Sport reported in April that Young had been suspended by the Welsh region over bullying claims. 

A thorough, independent investigation concluded there was insufficient evidence to support the allegations made against Young which are understood to have come from players and staff. 

Young categorically denied the allegations. He has therefore been exonerated although has agreed to depart Cardiff by mutual agreement as the investigation ‘caused strain on the working relationship’ between the two. 

It means Cardiff are once again on the lookout for another new head coach but serious questions must be asked about the way the club’s hierarchy have handled Young’s suspension and now departure.