Super Rugby to keep protecting ref’s role
Referees will continue to be empowered to lead decision-making during the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific.
Unprompted intervention from television match officials (TMOs) will again be limited during the 2025 edition of Super Rugby Pacific.
Tournament organisers confirmed yesterday that referees will continue to be empowered to lead decision-making.
This comes as European club competitions embrace the expanded the role of the TMO that often sees games officiated from behind a monitor instead of on the field.
Super Rugby Pacific said it had also been working with clubs and venues to roll out standardised on-screen graphics to help communicate referee decisions to the fans in the stands.
“The fans at the games will also get more insight into how major decisions such as tries/no tries and red cards are made, with the competition looking to broadcast referee microphones in-stadium at key moments,” it said.
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The 2025 Super Rugby Pacific tournament will also trial law innovations already seen in this season’s United Rugby Championship, including the time allowed for conversions being reduced from 90 seconds to 60 seconds, more protection for the scrumhalf when clearing the ball and a call of ‘play on’ if a non-straight lineout throw is uncontested.
2025 Super Rugby Pacific kicks off this Friday with a match between the Crusaders and Hurricanes in Christchurch (08:05 SA time).
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