Rugby: NZRU keeping quiet over Umaga ref blast

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The New Zealand Rugby Union is refusing to comment on Tana Umaga's scathing attack on the standard of New Zealand and Australian referees.

Umaga put himself in line for a major fine by speaking publicly of his concerns for the game as he ended his Super 14 career on Saturday night.

Umaga believes the standard of refereeing in this part of the world is appalling because officials are not held accountable for their decisions.

"I tell my son to become a ref because it is the safest job in the world at the moment," he said after his last game for the Hurricanes.

The Rugby Union is keeping its thoughts to itself at the moment while world referees boss Paddy O'Brien has reportedly written off the comments as an emotional reaction to a one off loss.

- NZ HERALD STAFF, NEWSTALK ZB

>>Umaga blasts refs before signing off