Owens: Big screen replays bring reaction
THE world’s best referee Nigel Owens has stepped into the debate about player behaviour. Last week in The Rugby
Paper, ‘Fearless’ Fred Howard, former international referee, now coaching referees for the RFU, said a tougher stance was needed against dissenting players to prevent the game going down the same road as football.
Owens says: “I understand why people think that may be the case (an increase in dissent). As a group of international refI we discuss areas of the game where we need to be stronger, where we need to clamp down.
“It’s an on-going battle. Unless you keep on top of it, this sort of thing keeps rearing its head. It’s where we are with society and sport is a reflection of society.
“We will be in referees’ camp during the Autumn Internationals. Maybe then it will be a case of refocusing on dissent and making sure it doesn’t get out of hand. There is a line that is not to be crossed.
“The last thing we want is to see rugby go down the football route of players abusing the match officials. wouldn’t say players today are more disrespectful than they used to be.
“The one big difference is that today critical incierees, dents are being replayed on the big screen and that brings a reaction. Technology has contributed to players talking to referees.
“I don’t think rugby is any position to take the moral high ground above football.
“There are things we need to improve on, like gouging, biting and putting the boot in on the floor.
“By and large you don’t get that kind of thing in football.
“What I think rugby does well is that it deals with the issues. Football would benefit hugely from the introduction of a citing procedure similar to the model we have in rugby.”