Rugby: TMOs return to provincial championship

NZRU high performance referee manager Lyndon Bray. Photo / Getty Images

Television match officials (TMOs) will return to rugby's national provincial championship beginning next week.

Budget cuts last year saw the use of TMOs discontinued, but NZRU's professional rugby general manager Neil Sorensen said feedback from unions and fans had been clear: "They wanted us to find a solution."

A sideline match official will take on the role of TMO and have use of a television monitor for replays if required by the match referee.

The match official with the TMO role will be appointed jointly by the provincial union hosting the match and the NZRU.

The previous TMO system required specifically appointed match officials to have their own technology booths at the ground along with additional match cameras.

The sideline monitor system is considerably less expensive.

NZRU high performance referee manager Lyndon Bray has welcomed the introduction of sideline TMOs as an added tool for referees.

"Those few occasions may be quite clear to everyone watching at home, but can be missed by the match officials if they are unsighted," Bray said.

- NZPA