In a subtle but concerted move from SANZAAR,the administrative body overseeing Super Rugby and the Rugby Championship,chief executive Andy Marinos said the current protocols governing the Television Match Official (TMO) were"clearly not working".
![Controversy:Sunwolves player Ed Quirk was sent off for what many saw as commonplace in a rugby breakdown.](https://static.ffx.io/images/$width_300%2C$height_150/t_crop_auto/t_sharpen%2Cq_auto%2Cf_auto/0ab29b94232736706c81945ac150cc45f4a918d6)
Controversy:Sunwolves player Ed Quirk was sent off for what many saw as commonplace in a rugby breakdown.Fox Sports
It appears SANZAAR is set to lobby World Rugby to review the TMO's powers and put the on-field referee at the centre of decision-making again.
"A major concern for us at present is the practical implementation of the Television Match Official (TMO) protocols. The protocols are clearly not working and a specific review is required in this area,"Marinos said in a statement on Monday.
"SANZAAR believes the appointed referee needs to remain the key decision maker on the field and that TMO interventions only provide context to the match officials’ decision making. We need better consistency in the application of the protocols and most would agree that perhaps this is not the case. The aim of the review will be to drive some operational changes to the protocols to ensure this consistency so that better outcomes are delivered."
The underlying message from the national unions that make up the SANZAAR partnership is that the TMO's influence on the game has grown beyond reasonable input,to the extent that decisions involving the video referee are taking too long,happening too often and are too inconsistent.
SANZAAR believes the appointed referee needs to remain the key decision maker on the field...
SANZAAR chief executive,Andy Marinos
SANZAAR's tentative foray into regional diplomacy is certain to be welcomed by its referees as well as players,coaches and fans,all of whom have found plenty of reason to decry the influence of the TMO throughout the Super Rugby season,as well as the June Test series between Australia and Ireland and New Zealand and France.
The tipping point appears to have come during the Reds final-round match against the Sunwolves in Brisbane on the weekend. The Sunwolves'Australian flanker Ed Quirk was red-carded for a"love tap"on a Reds's No.10 Hamish Stewart towards the end of the first half. The incident,in which Quirk tackled Stewart then dragged a closed fist across his face,was spotted by TMO Damien Mitchelmore. Referee Ben O'Keeffe sent off Quirk after a lengthy stoppage and the former Queenslander was suspended for two weeks for striking. The punishment was arrived at after taking in to account Quirk had a clean record and Stewart was not injured in the encounter.
The decision prompted disbelief from the coaches of both teams and appears to have been the final straw for SANZAAR,who must follow the protocols set by World Rugby.
![Send off:Quirk walks after being shown a red card during the Sunwolves\'final round loss to the Reds at the weekend.](https://static.ffx.io/images/$width_300%2C$height_150/t_crop_auto/t_sharpen%2Cq_auto%2Cf_auto/1837db67d4a21fb1c5ede517c09b0e8bf7ec11c5)
Send off:Quirk walks after being shown a red card during the Sunwolves\' final round loss to the Reds at the weekend.AAP.
"SANZAAR is not empowered to adjust any protocols that have a direct affect on the laws of the game,"he said."However,we are keen to lead the discussion in this important area and following our review we will take our recommendations to World Rugby,the guardians of the laws of rugby,to ensure beneficial outcomes are achieved for the game."
The review comes at a sensitive time in the southern hemisphere season,with Super Rugby entering the knock-out stages and the Rugby Championship just around the corner.
SANZAAR was set to announce its match officials roster for the finals on Tuesday and it is likely O'Keeffe will be confined to an assistant's role for the period,while Mitchelmore may not feature again this season.
The southern hemisphere nations have no say,however,on Test match appointments,which is another sensitive issue between SANZAAR and World Rugby.