What is the referee playing at?

An oft heard cry, especially at the World Cup when referees came in for a lot of criticism, especially in the final.

Truth is that the referees were doing what they were told - applying the laws and (more importantly) the latest "interpretations" from the IRB about how to apply these laws. These interpretations are much discussed, and have a big impact on the game - definitely at the professional level at least, but also at the lower levels too, especially if you get to play representative rugby - but we mere mortals rarely get to see them. The referees seem to keep them to themselves.

So it is really interesting to see this article where Paddy O'Brien, the head of the IRB's referees board, discusses some of the main interpretations for 2010. Its well worth a read because not only will you have a better understanding about what is going on when you watch professional games, but also much of the advice about what referees are looking for will make you a better player at every level - and much less likely to get "pinged" at some crucial moment in an important game. Well worth a look.

And if you are interested in this sort of thing - as a coach, referee or player - then The Huddle is a forum well worth looking at. And if you don't understand something about the game, or want to know how to improve why not drop them a question?