Over in the the US, they are getting prepared for kick-off for the new MLR season this weekend. They have made some bold changes to their MO set-up by replacing a dedicated TMO with a pitchside technician to review anything the on-field referees want to check, or where the teams want to challenge a decision (both within the current World Rugby TMO protocol.)
In previous years, TMOs in the MLR have operated remotely off-site, and often with no in-stadium screens to relay images to the referee, teams, or importantly to the paying spectators. The new process changes both those elements. MLR state that the new approach means the referee continues to lead the team and see, review and then decide on the big decisions.
Following the well-established NFL approach in their markets, a team will be able to instigate a challenge, instigated by throwing a flag from the sideline. The team captain will be able to instigate a challenge onfield by speaking to the referee. Each team has two challenges. Waste it; lose it. If the teams wait till the last 5mins of either half to use their challenge, and lose it, they will lose them both.
Under this change, the on-field referee can request assistance, or a team may challenge a decision if it believes a clear or obvious infringement may have occurred. The referee will signal for a review and address the in-stadium crowd and broadcast with the initial call on the field. The elements covered are the same as used by the MO teams across the elite rugby world.
Luke Rogan, last year’s MLR Final referee, commented, “The Referee Review System keeps decision-making where it belongs — with us, the on-field team, while giving us smarter, faster support in real time. It’s going to make our officiating more accurate, our game flow better, and the experience for fans even stronger. This is exactly the kind of innovation that pushes our league and our referees to a higher standard.”
In-Stadium Replay Operators
The In-Stadium Replay Operators (ISROs) will be neutral, league-certified analysts with officiating experience and law knowledge. Some of them, we understand, will be former/retired TMOs but others will come from the rugby analyst community. They will be located pitchside, in the technical area, where they show the referee real-time audio and visual feeds on dedicated feeds, which will also be relayed to screens in stadia for fans to follow.
Only instances of clear or obvious errors will result in a change in the original on-field decision. After review, the referee will address the stadium and broadcast to communicate the final ruling.
In a somewhat-curious video, MLR asked RWC final referee, Nigel Owens to outline the philosophy behind the plans. See the link below – feel free to let us know if you can work out why he’s sitting in what appears to be a fake bubble bath in his farmyard barn!
Rugbyreferee.net comment, “All in all, we can see the value of testing a new TMO-type process, and it will be really interesting to follow. If the purpose is to reduce interruptions and keep the game in flow, adding in at least four stops for captains/teams to instigate reviews, seems to be opening the game up to the opposite end game.”
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