Digby Ioane is a bit of trouble

[Bruce Ross]

I don't get involved in referee bashing, partly because I recognise that the laws of rugby are so complex that it is an extraordinary task for anyone to stay focussed for 80 minutes while running back and forth on a field making instantaneous judgements in front of a very critical audience both on and off the field.

The other reason is that I watch rugby to watch rugby and tend not to take much notice of the justice of the peace.

But one of the themes of this thread is "the worst ref ever", so I thought I'd pass on a couple of related stories.

In the early 'Eighties I was coaching the Woonona Shamrocks in the Illawarra competition. At one particular home game the refereeing performance had quite rightly earned the displeasure of the Shamrock fans. At the conclusion of the game the ref was abused and booed by a very hostile and threatening crowd. He was absolutely friendless and alone in a sea of people when one of our props who was a Pommy stepped forward and shook him warmly by the hand.

"Ref", said Tony, "I've been playing rugby for 15 years at junior and senior levels, in England and Australia, and I'd just like to say that's the most disgraceful exhibition of refereeing I've ever seen." All the while he was vigorously shaking the referee's hand. You can't teach that sense of style.

Another instance was an away game played against the Shamrocks' mortal enemy, the Vikings, fondly known as the "Vikings pooftahs" by all the other clubs in the Illawarra. We were informed that the match was to be refereed by one of the leading up and coming referees from Sydney. His interpretations of the Laws were at odds with those of the very knowledgeable Shamrock supporters. The home team prevailed and the visitors were seething. As the players left the field one of the Shamrock players called, "Come on boys, let's give him a hymn!"

The Shamrock players rushed forward to form a guard of honour for the referee. As he passed between them he heard the chant: "Hymn-n-n-n; hymn-n-n-n; hymn-n-n-n; FU-U-CK HIM_M_M_M!!"

We were back in the dressing sheds when a Vikings' official, Stalky Martin, came in. "Bruce," he said, "you'd better go and have a talk to the ref; he's very upset." I went into the referees' room and here was this young bloke, slumped in a chair, with tears pouring down his cheeks.

The best I could think of was to reassure him, "It's nothing personal, ref, it's just Illawarra rugby."

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Me too Daz. When I see dickheads on Aussie Rules or soccer fields verballing or borderline assaulting the ref, I look at our own game and think we've done it better. There is a level of mutual respect that exists between the refs and players (captains specifically) that makes the game better IMHO. I would hate for that to ever go away. Diggers will be right to be sanctioned here. One of the conventions of our game is for players to not back chat and not criticise refs in public. He should know better.

 

[Hawko]

Australian Players Association
CODE OF CONDUCT
11. not to show unnecessary obvious dissension, displeasure or disapproval towards a referee, touch judge or other match official, his or her decision or generally following a decision of a match official;
14. not to conduct themselves in any manner, or engage in any activity, whether on or off the field, that would impair public confidence in the honest and orderly conduct of matches and competitions or in the integrity and good character of participants; and
15. not to do anything which adversely affects or reflects on or discredits the game, the ARU, any Member Union or Affiliated Union of the ARU, or any squad, team, competition, tournament, sponsor, official supplier or licensee, including, but not limited to, any illegal act or any act of dishonesty or fraud.

Only one I could find but imagine they would all be similar.

Based on this, Tom Carter could be cited for "obvious dissension" after Kaplan's howler over the "knock on". The look on his face said it all. His only argument could be that given the quality of the decision that such dissension was necessary. :fishing

 

[Dunnman]

sounds like hes digbying a deep hole for himself to try and get out of.

 

[Slim 293]

Me too Daz. When I see dickheads on Aussie Rules or soccer fields verballing or borderline assaulting the ref, I look at our own game and think we've done it better. There is a level of mutual respect that exists between the refs and players (captains specifically) that makes the game better IMHO. I would hate for that to ever go away. Diggers will be right to be sanctioned here. One of the conventions of our game is for players to not back chat and not criticise refs in public. He should know better.

It wouldn't happen in AFL...

They so much as breathe on an umpire and they're gone...

 

[WB3]

sounds like hes digbying a deep hole for himself to try and get out of.

That is so much worse than I thought this thread could ever get.

Anyway I'm with everyone who says respecting the ref is one of the great traditions of rugby. It is certainly more dignified to lose after being whistled out of the game and stay silent than to whinge about what can't be changed.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

It wouldn't happen in AFL...

They so much as breathe on an umpire and they're gone...

I've seen plenty of players giving umpires a spray in that game over the years. Any back chat with a rugby ref and you get marched.

 

[The Mayor of Perth]

...Isaia Toeava...even though he didn't participate in that actual game

That'd be the last two games wouldn't it? Since I put him in my fantasy team!

 

[twenty seven]

Lets get something straight, 'Ref bashing' and making an 'obvious point of view' are two totally different things. Swearing and screaming at the Ref is wrong, not constructive in the slightest.
Secondly - A lot of these 'Codes of Conduct' were established prior to when professionalism was introduced. Players are criticised and talked about, as are Coaches.
Thirdly - Refs are fairly well payed in the higher ranking games so therefore should they not be more accountable for their actions and decisions. They have become very 'precious' and a protected species. I do not like the way soccer players and the likes get in the face of the Referees, but I do believe they should be more accountable when receiving a healthy pay check.
Referees need better training and mentoring, from the grass roots up. BUT if you earn the bucks, then do a better bloody job and not hide behind the "Code of Conduct'" . It's not an easy job, but most of the time they are a little too precious. Players get bagged all the time when the screw up on the field, and of the field.
Lets face it - what Diggers tweeted was not foul, destructive nor abusive. It really did not even mention game or code. Assumptions are made because of who he is and when he tweeted. Blind Freddy can put two and two together - legally, can't see what leg they are standing on.

 

[daz]

I've seen plenty of players giving umpires a spray in that game over the years. Any back chat with a rugby ref and you get marched.

Yes, AFL players do spray more than rugby players. However, the AFL tribunal is full of players who have been reported for abuse towards an umpire.

What is more effective, and this works in both AFL and rugby, is that there is usually a real time penalty, i.e. 10 minutes in rugby and a free kick in AFL. Costing your team points or the game because of your outburst will sting far more than anything else.

And in the good old days, a post-game spray from the coach was something to be avoided at all costs...

 

[Bullrush]

Lets get something straight, 'Ref bashing' and making an 'obvious point of view' are two totally different things. Swearing and screaming at the Ref is wrong, not constructive in the slightest.
Secondly - A lot of these 'Codes of Conduct' were established prior to when professionalism was introduced. Players are criticised and talked about, as are Coaches.
Thirdly - Refs are fairly well payed in the higher ranking games so therefore should they not be more accountable for their actions and decisions. They have become very 'precious' and a protected species. I do not like the way soccer players and the likes get in the face of the Referees, but I do believe they should be more accountable when receiving a healthy pay check.
Referees need better training and mentoring, from the grass roots up. BUT if you earn the bucks, then do a better bloody job and not hide behind the "Code of Conduct'" . It's not an easy job, but most of the time they are a little too precious. Players get bagged all the time when the screw up on the field, and of the field.
Lets face it - what Diggers tweeted was not foul, destructive nor abusive. It really did not even mention game or code. Assumptions are made because of who he is and when he tweeted. Blind Freddy can put two and two together - legally, can't see what leg they are standing on.

1. 'worst ref ever' is not an 'obvious point of view' it's just a point of view.

2. The Code of Conduct for SANZAR was set up when the game went professional or afterwards because there wasn't a SANZAR previous to that. And it doesn't matter if it's professional or not.

3. Hmmmmm....everyone was (some still are) up-in-arms about the Paddy O'Brien/Stu Dickinson incident a couple of years ago. Apparently it's OK for Diggers to critisise the ref publicly but not Paddy? The refs currently are accountable and regardless of how well paid they are, that accountable shouldn't really happen in the public arena. Does you boss do your KPIs or performance reviews in front of the whole business and it's customers?

Ioane knows what the code of conduct is and he chose to put that stupid tweet up....if you're so keen on accountability, let him face the music and take the consequences as they come.

 

[daz]

We were back in the dressing sheds when a Vikings' official, Stalky Martin, came in. "Bruce," he said, "you'd better go and have a talk to the ref; he's very upset." I went into the referees' room and here was this young bloke, slumped in a chair, with tears pouring down his cheeks.

The best I could think of was to reassure him, "It's nothing personal, ref, it's just Illawarra rugby."

Ah, so that's how Paddy O'Brien got his start in rugby.......I didn't know he grew up in Sydney.

I always knew there must have been a trauma in his youth!

 

[Ruggo]

Storm in a tea cup this whole thing. Digby has admitted it was a silly thing to do and I am sure he will cop whatever punishment he recieves.

 

[TheTruth]

Storm in a tea cup this whole thing. Digby has admitted it was a silly thing to do and I am sure he will cop whatever punishment he recieves.

what choice will he have

 

[DPK]

I always knew there must have been a trauma in his youth!

His flowing locks are a dead giveaway...

 

[chief]

Yeah Ioane should be sanctioned, but refs should also be accountable, they are paid too. Last year SANZAR said they were going to ensure more accountability, and right now there remains nothing.

 

[twenty seven]

1. 'worst ref ever' is not an 'obvious point of view' it's just a point of view.


My point of view did not refer to the tweet but a person having a point of veiw. Nowhere did I relate that to Digby's comment so please don't get personal.
No Sanzar was put up for perusal and many Codes of Conduct are as old as the Ark, just tweaked.
And yeah we are all accountable - sorry mate but in my job , if we stuff up the media make merry on it and more often then not we lose our job. Accountability is a big thing in my job.
Ruggo is dead right - a storm in a tea cup. Its a tweet that shouldn't have been put up, but was, now its gone. Stupid but done and dusted. Seen a lot worse. If he gets more than a fine then there should be an uproar.
As to the Paddy/ Stu incident - isn't that as old as the Ark!

 

[MrTimms]

SANZAR Release:

NEWS RELEASE


SANZAR JUDICIAL HEARING FINDS DIGBY IOANE GUILTY OF BREACHING CODE OF CONDUCT


A SANZAR Judicial Hearing has found Queensland Reds wing Digby Ioane guilty of breaching the SANZAR Code of Conduct.

Ioane faced the hearing as a result of his comment on the social media website Twitter following the Reds' loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington last Saturday.

After considering documentation relevant to the case and receiving inputs from Ioane's legal counsel and SANZAR officials, SANZAR Judicial Officer, Nigel Hampton QC (Quade Cooper), ruled that there had been an act of misconduct and a breach of the Code of Conduct. Hampton issued Ioane with a formal caution and imposed a fine of Aus $ 2,000.

In issuing the caution, Hampton severely reprimanded Ioane and warned him about his future conduct with regard to the use of social media. Hampton told Ioane that his status compelled him to use social media responsibly and urged him to pass this message on to his fellow players.

Hampton ruled that a caution alone was not an adequate deterrent, hence his decision to impose a fine of $ 2,000.

The fine carries two conditions; payment must be made to SANZAR by 28 May 2011, and Ioane must immediately write a letter of apology to the referee concerned. Such an apology had been offered by Ioane in his response to the charge.

Ends

And from the Reds:

Ioane apologises for Tweet

4 May, 2011

Queensland Reds winger Digby Ioane has apologised unreservedly over a message on Twitter on Saturday night during the game against the Hurricanes in Wellington.

“I am sorry for any harm that I may have caused. I’ve learned my lesson.”

“Referees have a tough job to do and they deserve respect.”

“I also understand what Twitter is all about now but when it all comes down to it I’m proud to be a member of the Reds and I just got carried away. It won’t happen again.”

Ioane and the Reds are now focussed on the Rebels game on Friday night in Melbourne.

Ends

 

[Tangawizi]

I think $2,000 is a small price to pay if we now avoid that ref forever.

Time to move on and get back to the task at hand of putting about 100 points on the Rebels on Friday night.

 

[qwerty51]

Wasn't Giteau fined 5k? What did he say again? Something like "If Walsh is the ref again we might not even bother turning up" I think?

Actually nvm, I think Giteau's is much worse come to think of it.