Blog: Why are the elite referees acting as TMOs?

The eagle-eyed among you, may have spotted some well-known names down as TMOs in this week’s midweek Gallagher Premiership rugby appointments. Indeed, I’ve had a number of queries to make sure they are correct, or to see if there’s a story behind it.
 
So what is going on there then? As far as we can tell, there’s a couple of reasons.

Logistics

Firstly, logistical issues. The compacted fixture list and TV requirements means there are some strange kick off times. On Tuesday we have one at 5.30pm and on Wednesday, three 6pm kick offs.  The majority of the RFU’s Professional Group of Match Officials Team (PGMOT) have a day job outside of rugby and other commitments, so it can be very difficult for some in the TMO and AR ranks to get away from work and travel for early kick offs during the week. So, Tony Spreadbury, the PGMOT boss is looking to his professional employees to fulfil those roles, or at least to double up – Ref/AR one day, TMO the next.

World Rugby

Secondly, there has been a push from World Rugby to consider having the international match appointments operating more as pods – like the New Zealand teams have done effectively in Super Rugby Aotearoa, and as happened, to some extent, during the the Rugby World Cup last year.  

With post-Covid travel likely to be restricted, we may now see regional pods of World Rugby officials, with all pod members rotating round the roles too. 

So, if World Rugby have made noises to try it, to makes sense for Unions to give their World Rugby cohort some experience now. That’s why you’re seeing Wayne Barnes, Matthew Carley and Karl Dickson in the truck this time. With Luke Pearce, they’re the four RFU referees who are currently operating at World Rugby level too.  (post edit: There’s been some changes since publication and Tom Foley is now on TMO rather than Matthew Carley)

A good idea?

So there’s two reasons, why it’s happening.  Whether it’s a good idea or not is a separate discussion. And time will tell!

Is it a good idea to keep the TMO and ARs as specialist roles or should they be able to be done by ‘anybody’ in a pod?  Historically, there’s been various differing opinions about having specialist assistant referees involved rather than using the  referees. Most leagues, probably for resource reasons, tend to have specialist ARs, whereas World Rugby choses it’s main referees as ARs.  It’s swung both ways overtime.

ARing, is a different skill set to refereeing. As is being a TMO. The setup is different. The ability to focus is different. The pressure is different.

Not everyone will have the skillset to do it, and as with anything, only by getting experience at it will they know if they’re able to. 

Let’s see what happens this week.