Luke Pearce on trolls: 'It can't continue this way'
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Referee Luke Pearce has said that the abuse directed at referees online “can’t continue this way,” or else he fears his colleagues will walk away from the job.
Officials have been in the spotlight over this international window due to a series of cards that have, or more controversially have not, been shown, and Pearce has said that there is only so much trolling people can take.
Joining Jim Hamilton on The Rugby Pod this week, the Premiership referee, who has taken charge of Romania versus Italy and Canada versus Spain this summer, discussed the criticism and online abuse those in his profession face and how they deal with it, admitting he does get “consumed by it from time to time.”
The pair also questioned whether a dialogue should be opened between referees and the public after matches, where they are given the opportunity to explain their decisions in the face of criticism they are receiving.
“I do wonder sometimes though, and I don’t know why, but referees are always the centre of attention at everything,” Pearce said.
“Referees are always in that spotlight and it’s the nature of the job to have thick skin, so we can’t make this an over-sensitive job either, but how we then communicate to the wider world to explain what we’re doing is working progress really.
“Barnesy [Wayne Barnes] does a really good job and a few of us have been on BT to try and give the referee’s side of things but we’re a close-knit team and it becomes a little bit tricky then when we’re critiquing one of our mate’s performance in the public domain. Because people want to hear ‘he or she got that right or wrong,’ that’s what they want, they want the juicy story to say good or bad. But sometimes we can’t give that. We don’t want to be sat on the fence with answers, but we just want to quote what the law book says in certain scenarios and why a referee may have interpreted it that way.
“I don’t think we’re quite there yet. It’s something that clearly will have to change in the next few years. Because you’ve only got to look on social media this weekend- it can’t continue this way of continually slamming people after every single fixture because people are just going to give up. People will just walk away from it, is my fear. You’ve got to have thick skin, of course you have, but there’s only so much dealing with real s**t that you can deal with for however many years you are in this job for.”
Pearce had already said that referees need to be prepared for abuse if they chose to use social media, but still called out the attacks on his colleague Karl Dickson online following his performance in the first Test between the All Blacks and Ireland this year.
“If you want to be on [social media], you’ve got to brace yourself for the s**t that comes your way as well,” he said. “I think the balance that we’re struggling with in refereeing at the moment is having a profile, doing this stuff, making people realise that we’re decent people, accessible and we’re normal. We’re normal human beings that are just trying to do the best job that we can.
“You take Karl’s example, there’s no reason why he should get a load of s**t from that New Zealand vs Ireland game. He’s good enough, he’s doing a tier one game between two of the biggest countries in the world.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Some dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
1 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
7 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
7 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
7 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
7 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
7 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
7 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to comments