The New Sanzar CITING process

[PaarlBok]

We cant expect worse then the pass and finally some light in the citing tunnel.

SARugby.com
SANZAR strive for citing consistency

SANZAR have finally budged and taken action to achieve greater consistency in the current farce citing system.

In an attempt to iron out the kinks in the cable, which among other cases led to the suspension of Bakkies Botha and subsequent protesting of the Springboks during last year’s British & Irish Lions series, SANZAR have decided to appoint only one citing commissioner in each of the three countries.

Freek Burger has been selected as South Africa’s sole commissioner, while Steve Hinds and Scott Nowland will oversee matters in New Zealand and Australia respectively. Burger is a former manager of South African referees, a test player and referee and has officiated two Super Rugby finals. The Australasian duo is equally qualified and has vast experience in citing.

The trio is required to watch every Super 14 match on television at home. The citing commissioner will take the lead in citing for matches played in his own country, but all three will view and discuss the incident as soon as possible after matches. The final decision of whether or not to cite will rest with the citing commissioner in whose country the incident occurred.

The citing commissioners are also entitled to make suggestions about incidents which did not occur in their own country. There is a 24-hour window for a citing to take place, that is, to be referred to the judicial officer. The actual hearing may well take place in a country in which the incident did not occur.

Citing is generally regarded as the result of an offence worthy of a red card. Under the new system, however, citing commissioners could also examine what would probably have been a yellow card offence and notify the player's team accordingly. This is seen as a proactive measure against foul play.

It is the judicial officer who will finally decide on the procedure to be followed after the citing commissioner has cited.

 

[fatprop]

More important would be standardised punishments

 

[Brumby Jack]

The trio is required to watch every Super 14 match on television at home

Where do I sign up? Imagine telling the missus that you HAVE to watch every Super 14 game...outstanding.

 

[Moses]

Why not also make the judicial people the same throughout the season, or better yet make the citing dudes also hand out sentences.

24hr window is a bit shit too.

They could meet via Skype each Monday, view all the incidents any of them feel worthy, then come to a majority consensus on the grade of offence and plug that into a formula that accounts for the players history.

If a player contests their sentence, they can represent to their local dude who will again skype in the other two dudes

Small point but wasn't the patron saint of fair play Bakkies cited in an International?

 

[Scarfman]

If I read this correctly, the main change is that the 3 commissioners will review the incident collectively? Like, "hey Freek, did you see what Bakkies did to the man lying prone at 23:21 in the 2nd half?"

And then they all have a say, and the local commish has final say.

Not perfect, still feels a bit amateur era, but slightly better.

 

[PaarlBok]

Small point but wasn't the patron saint of fair play Bakkies cited in an International?

Yep you right , think it was the tip of the farcical citing iceberg.

This is a good start from zero and a huge improvement. At least you'll get three countries now talking out of one mouth.

 

[Biffo]

At least you'll get three countries now talking out of one mouth.

I would wish only on my worst enemy being the audience to that.

 

[Pfitzy]

Not sure about this. I seem to remember Freek having a very pro-Bok agenda in the past. Maybe that's just poor memory.

In any case, it'll still be the same shit e.g. 6 week sentence gets handed down. Appeal is run, and it miraculously gets reduced to 2-4 weeks. The appeals process, as well as what is apparently plea bargaining for players willing to plead guilty (despite experiencing no such thing), ruins the whole thing. Sentence handed down at the initial finding should always stick for mine.

 

[PaarlBok]

Not sure about this. I seem to remember Freek having a very pro-Bok agenda in the past. Maybe that's just poor memory.

Ag no Nick man, the guy runs a ref Academy and is a true professional. Pretty sure you wont find silly kak from him and on his day one of the best refs around.

 

[Pfitzy]

I might be thinking of another oke Oom.

 

[PaarlBok]

Freek in his reffing days

 

[Moses]

I still think these changes are minimal at best. At most, this will ensure more incidents are at least put before the citation committee, and hopefully remove the 24 hour excuse that has plagued the system for some time. I recall a few incidents that should have been caught by the new system, such as this one, not many though.

There is no change to the process once something is cited, no change to the penalties that are dished out, and no change to the appeals process. These areas accounted for 95% of the shite that came out of the judicial system, and they're unchanged.

 

[PaarlBok]

You probably right Moses but this citing differenses between the countries were like the good old reffing days. Go play where ever and you end up with home referees and a lot of local favourism. It happen way to ften in the past when a Kiwi player get cited in NZ the sentences wasnt the same when to what a Aus or SA player received in NZ and the same in the other two countries. Now you have a representive from each country to speak out of one mouth and hopefull get at least some consistency. Move in the right direction but still far from the finish product I would think.

 

[Pfitzy]

I personally think the Kiwis have been generally more honest about their citings than the rest of us. When Rua Tipoki smashed James Hilgendorf with a forearm he copped 16 weeks based on his prior history. Can't remember a ban like that being handed out in Australia.

 

[PaarlBok]

I personally think the Kiwis have been generally more honest about their citings than the rest of us. When Rua Tipoki smashed James Hilgendorf with a forearm he copped 16 weeks based on his prior history. Can't remember a ban like that being handed out in Australia.

wasnt imply they are worse then the other two, just using a example.

 

[PaarlBok]

SANZAR Media Advisory

Media are advised that SANZAR has instituted new citing protocols for the 2010 Super 14 season to refine and improve the current system.


The major change sees a reduction in the size of the panel of Citing Commissioners to ensure greater consistency in interpretation of offences that merit citing with one primary Citing Commissioner in each of the three SANZAR nations with each having a back-up commissioner.



The Citing Commissioners and the back-up commissioners (in brackets) are:

South Africa: Freek Burger (Andy Prior)

Australia: Scott Nowland (Dick Byres)

New Zealand: Steve Hinds (Mike O'Leary)



The Citing Commissioners will have weekly teleconferences to ensure a standardised approach.

The Citing Commissioners are mandated to consult with the other two on any incidents they feel should be considered, however it is the sole responsibility of the citing commissioner in the match host country to decide whether to cite or not.



Citings are required to be made within 12 hours.



The Judicial process remains unchanged. SANZAR will appoint independent

Judicial Officers to hear citing complaints on a case-by-case basis.



Issued by SANZAR Communications

 

[Blue]

I personally think the Kiwis have been generally more honest about their citings than the rest of us. When Rua Tipoki smashed James Hilgendorf with a forearm he copped 16 weeks based on his prior history. Can't remember a ban like that any reasonable ban ever being handed out in Australia to an Australian.

Needed some fixing. :thumb

 

[RugbyReg]

I personally think the Kiwis have been generally more honest about their citings than the rest of us. When Rua Tipoki smashed James Hilgendorf with a forearm he copped 16 weeks based on his prior history. Can't remember a ban like that being handed out in Australia.

ask Brendan Cannon.

 

[TheRiddler]

ask Brendan Cannon.

If you're referring to the lovely little slap that Canno put on Meelamu, didnt that happen in Wellington?

 

[RugbyReg]

nah I was reffering to when I think he was playing for QLD possibly even against NSW.

In fact it might have been a club game.

Rucked someone on the head and was suspended for about 16 weeks or so.