Sanzaar admits Super Rugby referee team mistake over HIA replacement

SANZAAR has confirmed that “sideline match officials” made an incorrect ruling towards the end of the Reds versus Crusaders match on Saturday 2nd March in Brisbane.

Crusader number 22, Mitchell Hunt (pictured above), who had replaced fly-half Richie Mo’unga [as a tactical substitution], was removed from the field in the 71st minute due to evidence he had received a concussive incident. This determination removed the requirement for a HIA assessment as per Super Rugby HIA protocols.

Hunt was then replaced by Mo’unga, despite Crusaders having used all their substitutions, as allowed by the same HIA protocols. Unfortunately, the sideline official determined that as no HIA had been carried out Hunt was simply injured and therefore not allowed to be replaced. This lead to Mo’unga incorrectly being taken from the field at the 74 minute mark. Neither the referee, Marius van der Westhuizen, nor ARs AJ Jacobs or Damon Murphy questioned the message relayed to them by the officials on the side.

In its statement, SANZAAR expressed disappointment “that the HIA protocols, introduced into the game as player welfare measure, were wrongly interpreted and is taking steps to ensure such incidents do not occur moving forward.”

Rugbyreferee.net comment:

It’s always disappointing when officials get things wrong, but it’s a shame that the SANZAAR statement picks out just one person here. All of the match officials involved should have been aware of the regulations and the right outcome should have been achieved by taking the time to clarify the facts as they’d happened with the number four or five. That way, the referee, or one of the ARs could have helped the whole referee team to get to the correct outcome. On this occasion, the outcome of the match appears not have been impacted – fortunate! Our message to all referees involved in any game, is to fully understand the laws and all the relevant subs/blood/HIA regulations and scenarios that impact the game you have ahead of you. It’s not an easy job at the best of times – this focus won’t make it any easier!