Ex-England coaches call for changes in Rugby World Cup officiating

17 September 2023 , 14:01

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Ex-England coaches call for changes in Rugby World Cup officiating

Sir Clive Woodward believes that referees should take more accountability and provide transparency over decisions after Eddie Jones claimed world rugby is becoming "too powerful".

Woodward, 67, lamented the inconsistency in the decision-making over head contact and admitted that the officials have not had a good Rugby World Cup so far. England flanker Tom Curry, Romain Taofifenua Jesse Kriel and Martin Sigren have all been high tackles or head contacts - but there has been different punishments.

To understand how the referees got to their conclusion, Woodward thinks the officials should be able to speak the media and that would add some "much-needed transparency". The ex-England centre, meanwhile, is hoping that the focus surrounding the referees will decrease as time goes on.

Woodward told the Daily Mail: "Referees have a tough job and we all make mistakes. But what I'd like to see is more accountability and the people who make the decisions on the field — as well as those in disciplinary panels off it — front up and explain why they have made them.

"I don't see why the media shouldn't be allowed to speak to referees or match officials after the game. I think that would add some much-needed transparency.

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"It would also give fans — who are confused by what's going on — some understanding of how these decisions are being reached. Hopefully, the focus on the refereeing decreases in the pool matches this weekend."

Sir Clive Woodward has had his say on the Rugby World Cup officiating (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Australia coach Jones claimed that the Television Match Official process is in danger due to more inconsistences at the tournament. Jones said: "World Rugby have tried to make the game safer, but they’ve made it more powerful by having more stoppages in the game. And there’s risk to that, there are risks when the game becomes more powerful.

"The game’s evolving into these 30-second bouts of absolute power. This World Cup will be decided by who can win those power contests. You need the game to be more continuous. The average ball-in-play is 30 seconds, the average break in the game is 70 seconds, so you encourage a power contest. We need more continuous play."

England coach Steve Borthwick also had his say ahead of his side's game against Japan. He said: "I also note there was a tremendous amount of comment from World Rugby on Owen Farrell for a couple of weeks during our preparation for this tournament.

"It was a situation that went on and on with lots of comment from World Rugby. I note there hasn’t been very many comments from World Rugby – I’m told – in the last week or so. I will leave that to World Rugby."

Kieran King