Rugby officials crack down

Officials have taken a no-nonsense approach to stamp out dangerous and illegal play in one of the worst starts to Wanganui club rugby.

After just four weeks of club rugby, three red and 21 yellow cards have been issued by eight different referees this season.

The three red cards were all issued to Integrity Motors Pirates during a bad-tempered Tasman Tanning Premier division match against Waverley Harvesting Border at Spriggens Park on April 6 - a match Border won 16-15 to take the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield.

The worst of those resulted in a 10-week suspension for Pirates centre Samu Etuaiti for physical abuse of a match official (linesman) when red-carded by referee Sean Moore.

The other two red cards were issued to Pirates lock Simon Hillis and replacement forward Pinota Leo. Both were for stomping opposing players. Hillis was stood down for four weeks, while Leo received a two-week suspension. There was also one yellow card issued during the same match, resulting in a 10-minute sin binning of the offending player.

Wanganui Rugby Union club rugby administrator JB Phillips said the number of red and yellow cards issued and the types of infringements occurring during the opening weeks was of major concern.

"The Wanganui union is concerned about the number of red and yellow cards issued during the first four weeks of competition, as are the referees. It's one of the worst starts to a Wanganui club rugby season," Phillips said yesterday.

"The three red cards were all against Pirates players in the April 6 premier match against Border. The yellow cards have been issued throughout the season by eight referees and involve 11 clubs, in both premier and senior grades.

"The infringements attracting yellow cards have been for a variety of offences, ranging from high, late and dangerous tackles, dangerous play, deliberate offsides and back chat.

"A letter has been sent to all clubs today, urging that they must curtail these types of offences."

Phillips said offences against match officials would not be tolerated.

"Referees and match officials are all volunteers and simply don't need abuse of any kind," Phillips said.

Meanwhile, Referees' Association facilitator Neil Forlong confirmed his members were also concerned, particularly about infringements for dangerous play.

"I'm probably one referee who has handed out my fair share of yellow cards this season, which is unusual for me, but when it comes down to dangerous play it has to be done," Forlong said yesterday.

"I would estimate up to 70 per cent of the yellow cards have been for dangerous tackles and dangerous play - that's the area of most concern to us. We have discussed the Pirates-Border match.

"It was a particularly bad-tempered game with an ugly aftermath," he said.

"You often see on TV players trying to advise referees how to rule and it sometimes happens in club rugby.

"While referees should have to explain their decisions, they are not going to change them and shouldn't be asked - a ref's decision is final. However, it's fair to say it comes down to an issue of player safety for us."