Should Sowakula’s try be awarded?

It was perhaps the most breathtaking try of the first round of the Super Rugby Pacific competition, but should it have been awarded?

New Zealand Rugby’s referee team aren’t even sure, so are this week seeking clarity from World Rugby over whether Pita Gus Sowakula’s stunning hurdling act of Aaron Smith was indeed legal or not.

During his side’s 26-16 Super Rugby Pacific opening-round win over the Highlanders in Queenstown on Saturday, No 8 Sowakula produced a genius, yet also potentially dangerous, piece of athleticism in scoring the Chiefs’ second try.

Carrying off the back of a fivemetre scrum, the 1.95m, 110kg back-rower thundered down the narrow short side, and with just Smith to beat, opted for the rather unorthodox aerial approach to cleverly evade the low tackle of the veteran All Blacks halfback.

Referee Paul Williams had no hesitation in awarding the try, with close-by assistant referee Marcus Playle also having no issue. But Sowakula’s freakish effort caused plenty of online debate as to its legitimacy.

And that’s because the laws of the game don’t have a black and white ruling for such acts.

IThat means it is instead all down to the interpretation of the match officials.

But New Zealand Rugby referee manager Bryce Lawrence revealed his troops were actually a little in the dark on which way they should be leaning for incidents like this.

“At the moment we’re a little bit unclear on that,” he admitted to Stuff.

And so it will make for a big talking point on his weekly World Rugby call with head of match officials Joel Jutge and other countries’ refs’ bosses, as Lawrence seeks some answers.

“It’s something that happens very rarely, but it could become a trend, so we also need to understand how it should be ruled... to bring clear understanding for players, coaches and referees.”