Rugby: Sanzar rules to closely monitor foul play

Chief Executive Officer for Sanzar, Greg Peters. Photo / Getty Images

Referees are being further encouraged to monitor foul play during this season's Super 15 series.

It was confirmed yesterday that they have been told to signal any mid-match concerns to the citing commissioner who can later adjudicate with the benefit of replays.

Referees may not be able to act on some incidents because they have been unsure about a player's identity or they and their assistants cannot be certain whether an offence warranted a red or yellow card.

Even if a referee sinbins a player he can refer the same incident to the citing commissioner for a review.

Citing commissioners are also being encouraged to issue yellow cards if they observe acts of foul play which go unnoticed by the match officials.

Sanzar chief executive Greg Peters said the changes would operate throughout the Super 15 and results would be monitored by the International Rugby Board.

The aim was to help referees and deliver greater consistency across judicial hearings in New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Officials were briefed on the changes at a cross-country working group forum recently in Sydney.

Until now, teams had four hours after a game to refer any opponents they felt had been guilty of foul play while the citing commissioner had 12 hours to cite any individuals.

The revised system encourages referees to be more vigilant about offenders instead of leaving most of the onus on citing commissioners, while Sanzar has been working hard to get uniform penalties instead of "hometown decisions" in judicial hearings.

Setting uniform penalties is an obvious step on the path of removing those suggestions of "hometown bias".

Peters said the objectives of the review were to provide a system that was fair, and consistent and simple with fewer full hearings and therefore reduced costs.

"Sanzar has long held the view that the disciplinary process could be enhanced to provide for a more consistent and simplified outcome," he added.

"We believe that these changes are an important step in the right direction."