2013 S15 Referees

[PaarlBok]

SARugby

SANZAR today announced an 18-man strong referee team for the 2013 Super Rugby competition.
The announcement includes five new referees to the Super Rugby circuit, including Argentinean Francisco Pastrana (who controlled his first Super Rugby match in 2012).

The team includes the Southern Hemisphere's top performers, with Craig Joubert, Steve Walsh and Chris Pollock (returning from injury) heading up a strong team.

"The recent form of some of our referees in the Test environment has given us an excellent senior group within the team, and we have been able to include a healthy number of young referees," SANZAR Game Manager Lyndon Bray said.

"They have been selected with an eye to the future, both for Super Rugby and Test rugby."

Along with the Argentinean Pastrana, Australia's James Leckie has been recalled to the squad, while Rohan Hoffman (a former professional rugby player), Jason Jaftha from South Africa and Nick Briant from New Zealand get their first taste of Super Rugby with their selections.

"Along with the five new referees introduced to Super Rugby in 2012, we have a very strong nucleus of younger referees, blended with some of the best in the world at the top of their game."

The full Super Rugby Referee Team for 2013 is:

Craig Joubert, Jaco Peyper, Jonathan Kaplan, Lourens van der Merwe, Stuart Berry, Jason Jaftha (South Africa)

Chris Pollock, Glen Jackson, Garratt Williamson, Jonathon White, Mike Fraser, Nick Briant (New Zealand)

Steve Walsh, Andrew Lees, Angus Gardner, James Leckie, Rohan Hoffman (Australia)

Francisco Pastrana (Argentina).

 

[p.Tah]

Wonder if they'll trial the RefCam that is being trialled in the UK.

THE introduction of technology that could revolutionise how rugby is watched will debut in the UK this weekend, and it could soon spread to other sports worldwide.

The "refcam" weighs little more than a mandarin, in size it is not as big as an iPhone, but in picture quality it is not far short of HD, and the images it provides will offer a unique perspective on the job of a referee, as well as taking the viewer right to the heart of the action.

When Matt Carley trots out to take charge of the match between Newcastle Falcons and London Scottish in the Championship in northern England, he will have strapped across his chest in a Velcro harness a tiny camera wired to a battery pack that will offer a window on to the world of the referee.

There will be sound as well as vision and a live recording of the entire game that the director sitting in his outside-broadcast truck can use to augment the overall match coverage. It promises to set new standards and, if deemed a success, could be rolled out in other competitions and eventually at international level.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...rs-eyeball-scrum/story-fnb64oi6-1226540256574

 

[Hawko]

So my favourite referee, Mark Lawrence, has finally had to hand in his card. Sorry to see him go.

 

[Eyes and Ears]

A lot of exits this year - both Lawrences, Marius Jonker, Keith Brown & Ian Smith.

 

[PaarlBok]

So my favourite referee, Mark Lawrence, has finally had to hand in his card. Sorry to see him go.

He'll be in action in the Vodacom Cup.

 

[yourmatesam]

PaarlBok Thanks for posting this. It's good to see some new blood there in the refereeing ranks for 2013. I hope Pollock makes a full recovery, he was the form ref of the 2012 S15 season for me.

 

[rugbysmartarse]

does anyone know if there is a pathway program for refs in Australia? I'm curious to know how the system works

 

[Eyes and Ears]

PaarlBok I hope Pollock makes a full recovery, he was the form ref of the 2012 S15 season for me.

It will be very interesting to see if he can recover from a hip replacement.

 

[Eyes and Ears]

does anyone know if there is a pathway program for refs in Australia? I'm curious to know how the system works

Yes. In short, the State unions run development squads and referees progress through Subbies, Colts and then to Grade. The ARU runs the National Squad. The national Squad are appointed as referees and also ARs/TJs for Super Rugby and they also referee international tour games and schoolboy tests. The ARU selects talent identified State based referees to referee at Championships (Schools, 16s etc). As of 2012, the ARU took over appointments for First Grade in Sydney and Brisbane. The National Squad and a handful of others were part of a National First Grade Squad.

 

[#1 Tah]

I really hope they give the RefCam a good run - at a refereeing course earlier this year I was told that referees dont necessarily know the laws better than any of us, but their conditioning, decision making under pressure, and most importantly, positioning are immaculate.

 

[rugbysmartarse]

I really hope they give the RefCam a good run - at a refereeing course earlier this year I was told that referees dont necessarily know the laws better than any of us, but their conditioning, decision making under pressure, and most importantly, positioning are immaculate.

Did they teach you to position yourself such that Richie is not visible?

 

[Bruwheresmycar]

I really hope they give the RefCam a good run - at a refereeing course earlier this year I was told that referees dont necessarily know the laws better than any of us, but their conditioning, decision making under pressure, and most importantly, positioning are immaculate.

It's definitely true that what separates the top refs from the rest are their fitness, positioning and ability to keep a cool head under pressure. But pretty much all refs at that level should have the lawbook almost memorized back to front.

At the end of the day they are the only ones on the planet who actually need to know all the semantics, so you'd hope they do!

 

[Bruwheresmycar]

Also an interesting review: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...-added-nothing-to-the-viewing-experience.html

 

[p.Tah]

Also an interesting review: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...-added-nothing-to-the-viewing-experience.html

Agree with Moore about the footage. You couldn't watch a whole game through this ref camera, but to say it doesn't add interest or another dimension to watching the game is strange.

I love what GoPro are doing with 'extreme' sports footage. This one featuring Kelly Slater is pretty good.

The camera is about the size of a computer mouse and sells for ~$300.

When the technology advances and they can bring gyroscopic type technology to these mini cameras it will be fantastic for sports such as rugby. I look forward to the day when every player is fitted with multiple unobtrusive cameras to enhance the viewing experience. Who would have thought 10 years ago that every player would be fitted with a GPS device to track the distances they travel during a game?

 

[RoffsChoice]

Will the refs be using the new IRB laws from the EOYT? Eg. 5s at back of ruck, shorter time for kick, 23man teams.

 

[Quick Hands]

Did I read it right that Steve Walsh is considered (one of) "the southern hemishere's top performers?" Does Lyndon Bray watch the same matches as us?

Sorry to see Marius Jonkers go though, I thought he was one of the best and most consistent.

 

[qwerty51]

Will the refs be using the new IRB laws from the EOYT? Eg. 5s at back of ruck, shorter time for kick, 23man teams.

Yes to the first 2, no to the 3rd.

 

[elementfreak]

Did I read it right that Steve Walsh is considered (one of) "the southern hemishere's top performers?" Does Lyndon Bray watch the same matches as us?.

Are you sure you watch the same matches as everyone? Walshy has been very good since he has worked his way back to the IRB panel and, IMO, it would be between him and Joubert as to who is the best in the world.

 

[PaarlBok]

SARugby

Law variations in use in South Africa in 2013


January 29, 2013
This year, the International Rugby Board has introduced 11 law trials that will be implemented from the start of the 2013 season.
Seven of these have a bearing on play and most of them are designed to make the game faster, with less time wasted, and so improve the overall spectator experience.
Extensive global research involving players, coaches, referees and on-field trials took place before the trials were introduced, according to Andre Watson, GM Referees at SARU.
“An example of this was the extended powers afforded to Television Match Officials (TMOs) during last season’s Absa Currie Cup,” said Watson. “This will be trialled worldwide this season with a view to it becoming Law in 2014,” said Watson.
“Some of the new law variations we will use in South Africa this season, were used by the Springboks during the Castle Outgoing Tour in November 2012.”
New law variations in 2013 in South Africa:
Five seconds at the ruck
When the ball becomes available at a ruck, the referee will call “use it” and the scrumhalf then has five seconds to clear the ball by passing or running it. This will speed up play by not allowing the team in possession to slow it down, and giving the defenders less time to set up their defensive structures and the attackers the opportunity to be more creative.
Three-word scrum call
The four-step engagement call has now been shortened in senior rugby to ‘crouch-touch-set’.
The word ‘set’ is shorter and quicker to say than ‘engage’ and is expected to produce better timing and adherence by the front rows. The removal of the spoken ‘pause’ does not take away the actual pause, as the two front rows are expected to remain stationary and still before engaging on the ‘set’ call. At amateur age-group levels, additional modifications have been introduced to minimise the risk of the ‘hit’ at engagement and collapsed scrums, and improve the safety of the players.
Quick throw-in
The non-offending team may now take a quick throw-in from anywhere between their corner post and where the lineout would take place.
Additional powers for the TMO
The expanded TMO functionality includes identifying foul play, and clear and obvious infringements in the last two phases before a try is scored. All officials (the referee, assistant referees and TMO) are allowed to initiate a referral and make recommendations.
Other modifications include:
• Increasing the squad to 23 players for international matches, with specialist replacements for each of the three front-row positions.
• The reintroduction of a stud on the front of the boot (this was banned in the 1980s).
• Allowing players to wear GPS units on the field.
• Allowing women to play with long tights.
• Stipulating that conversion kicks to be taken within 90 seconds of scoring a try.
• The option of choosing a scrum when the opposition knocks on or throws forward and the ball goes into touch.
• If a team is awarded a penalty or free kick in the lineout, they have the option of taking the lineout again without having to kick for touch.

 

[Hawko]

SARugby

How many of these changes will be introduced for Super Rugby? I know the 23rd player won't but I thought the three word scrum call will. Anyone got a definitive list?