NZR blows whistle on abuse of officials
“We want to work hard with all officials across the game to make sure they’re well supported.”
Mark Robinson, NZ Rugby chief executive
New Zealand Rugby boss Mark Robinson has weighed in on the contentious subject of online abuse around match officials at the top levels of the game, describing it as “unacceptable” and pledging his organisation’s support to fight a worrying trend being experienced in the north.
Just recently, international referee Tom Foley, who was the TMO for the World Cup final won 12-11 by South Africa over the All Blacks, announced he was stepping away from the international game after receiving a “torrent of abuse” online following that contest.
Wayne Barnes, who refereed the final, also opened up on the abuse he had suffered online after announcing his retirement, while England flyhalf Owen Farrell has cited mental health as the principal reason for him taking a break from the international game.
Robinson, who briefed the media in Auckland yesterday following a NZ Rugby board meeting in the city, was asked about this concerning trend in the game, and while avoiding pointing the finger at All Blacks fans for any role they may have played, he was emphatic in his condemnation.
“We think it’s unacceptable,” he said. “We’ve certainly been in touch with [RFU boss] Bill [Sweeney], we feel for Tom at the moment, and it is a concerning trend in the game.
“There is some work going on behind the scenes on what we can do as relates to social media.
“We certainly don’t tolerate it, and want to work hard with all officials across the game to make sure they’re well supported.”
Asked what NZ Rugby could do to protect Kiwi officials from similar levels of attack, Robinson added: “World Rugby had the most significant resource put into that area, and we’re looking to gain more insights into what they’re looking at.”
Robinson confirmed the Black Ferns were set for a bumper schedule of as many as nine tests in 2024, while the All Blacks would play 14 internationals in the first season under new head coach Scott Robertson.
He said the pinnacle of a $20 million investment next year in he women’s game would be a Black Ferns schedule of four domestic tests and another five offshore.
The All Blacks will play three July tests (two against England and one against Fiji) and the NZ Rugby boss said venues for those were still being finalised. He admitted there was a possibility the Fiji match could be taken offshore.
On the subject of All Blacks eligibility, Robinson gave short shrif to suggestions the policy of not selecting from offshore could up for imminent review.
“It wasn’t discussed,” he said. “We’re certainly unsurprised by the fact after a World Cup year with a number of players departing this sort of thing comes up. It does every four-year cycle and sometimes in between.
“We’re really clear on our protocols, and think they’ve been a critical part of the All Blacks’ success over a long time, but also acknowledge the world is changing and from time to time those discussions need to happen and keeping an open mind is valuable. For now we’re really happy with where the policy sits.”
Robinson also talked about work being undertaken with World Rugby around the entertainment factor in rugby and the need to make the game more “fan-centric”.
”We’ve got work to do to elevate the fan consideration and the conversations about the game,” said Robinson.
He also chose his words carefully when discussing the change at the top of Rugby Australia’s leadership, with Daniel Herbert coming on board as chairman to replace his controversial predecessor, Hamish McLennan.
“We always consider the importance of Australia strategically to us, meaning we had to work really hard at that relationship, and that will continue to be the case, and was the case over the last few years.”