KEY POINTS:
Sanzar rugby officials will not take action against Tana Umaga for his parting shot at the standard of Super 14 refereeing.
The former All Blacks skipper, who played his last Super 14 match in the 38-14 loss to the Waratahs in Wellington on Saturday, said after the game that Southern Hemisphere referees were struggling.
"I think referees in this part of the world are lacking," Umaga said.
"Unfortunately referees in the Northern Hemisphere are better, which is sad to see.
"They have a better empathy for the game up there and something needs to be done.
"Apart from Jonathan Kaplan [South Africa], everyone is struggling and New Zealand and Australian referees are struggling."
He said referees should be more accountable and should face the media and explain their decisions.
Umaga said he was speaking out as he had only a domestic season to complete and it was not healthy to have players muzzled during competition for fear of upsetting sponsors and employers.
"I believe I'm at a stage that I can speak out and I can take the [fine] if it comes."
While Umaga's comments have not gone unnoticed, they have not cost him anything.
SANZAR Tournament Director Peter Rowles says Umaga did not breach the Code of Conduct as his comments did not criticise or attack any individual referees.
- NZPA, NEWSTALK ZB
