How to improve consistency in rugby officiating

I don't watch it enough to comment but at lower levels and same with gaa refs don't get enough training and supports especially compared to rugby.

We already have assistant refs who have far more powers than the touch judges of old. They're micced up and communicate far more than most people watching realise.

Refs have always reffed based on what's material. That isn't something new.

Pro games have more than 5 on duty now anyway.

It's not up to an online poster to draft improvements to how refs are developed.

But to dismiss my post by saying "A ref will miss things. It's impossible not to. If they were so easy then they'd be pulled" after I giving you real examples from a recent game is the greatest cop out I've read on Boards in ages.

The easiest offside to spot is surely at a scrum, three sets of eyes on it. Especially, when the offside has been brought to your attention.

Completely agree. Rugby is miles and miles and miles ahead at lower levels.

I've given you examples of offsides and you reply with this "They don't pull many things. If someone is a step offside at scrum no you don't pull" and you think that's not a cop out 😮

As for my suggestions on how to improve it, I'll repeat, that's up to the governing bodies.

Look, I'm not going there again with you, we can cut out the shadow boxing. I've my view, you've yours and it seems to grate you, it's not my intention to do that so let's leave it be.

attacking teams are nearly always offside - you'd wonder is it better to get rid of the 5M back for attacking teams?

The easiest thing to spot is probably the crocked feed but we let that go. It's a world of madness and can certainly appreciate the frustrations.

You go into a coffee shop and you get an eclair or profiteroles and you're not happy with the product, you complain, would you really accept it if the reply was "choux pastry is difficult to make, how would you improve it"

Now who is coping out? Answer my question what kind of game do you want. Do you want to go to games with double or treble the number of penalties. Do you agree with the advantage law. Every offside isn't material as theyre not the same. You don't just penalise something when you see it. You play on at times and warn players. Otherwise the game is unplayable, unwatchable. Un manageable and not interesting.

Why would you want players to challenge the laws? That kinda defeats the point of having laws.

If you dont penalise step offside when do you penalize? 2 steps? 4? This is the problem with ignoring the laws. Maybe 1 ref thinks 3 steps is fine but another thinks 5, you are basically playing a different game depending on the ref then.

The game would arguably be better if defenders were all onside, more chance of something exciting happening in attack, which is what we all want, right?

You say that refs let things go all the time, but how much is them letting things go and how much is them simply not seeing it because they are looking at something else? The feed is always a great example of this. If there isnt a far contest for the ball, why have scrums? Just go league style or award a free kick?

'A ref will miss things'. This is the heart of the problem. More officials means less things missed.

Referees are arguably the most skilled people in the game and the long existing position where respect was automatically accorded them is under threat. But we need to remember that referees & other officials have the same in built capacity for error & inconsistency that players & coaches do. We need to re-establish the culture of respect for officiating by improving the capacity of officials to effectively referee. Players & coaches are constantly seeking to evolve & improve performance. Should WR do more to bring similar improvements to officiating ?. Should that include testing the idea of more officials, targeted at the problem areas (breakdown & offside lines spring to mind) ?.

I think more officials you get more interpretations and more mess and harder to let the game flow.

For example, I look to play advantage and will remind players loudly one's on - and if it's a penalty or scrum advantage. They get used pretty quickly that for a penalty advantage that goes for a bit longer and will generally be looking for serious gain otherwise I'll go back. Then you see them trying higher risk things like most cross field kicks and they also stop appealing for the penalty because they hear advantage and keep going. Similarly, when someone jackals if I think they can get the ball I'll let them get it rather than pinging quickly. Why? because when you have a transition you have much more space and great opportunity to attack in any sport - especially rugby. Teams get used to you doing this - they attack more and overall you get more open rugby. There's a long list of things that add up to ref style and teams interpret the ref and play accordingly. More officials, I think can adversely impact the game.

I'd much prefer to see an open game and let a few micro and non-material offsides go rather than stop / start the game with someone whistling people off the park. At any level.

One aspect of Association Football at a Pro level is that their governing bodies back up the Refs without question or comment.

Even if you have to endure the abuse of fans & players on the pitch & in the media, you know your FA has your back.

Nigel's much repeated "this is not football" quote is not entirely fair.

Pro players know the laws and play on the edge. Many amateur players don't them all and we don't mind that - we want these lads and ladies playing first and foremast and there to help. I certainly hadn't a clue sometimes when I played - which was a long long time ago.

Playing on the edge is something I like about the game - they read the ref and then see what they can get away with. It's skill, intelligence and artistry all in one - at all levels of the sport. I'd hate to see that part of the game go.