ANALYSIS
The French disconnection
French referees are different to Anglophone ones – as Bernard Foley discovered to his, and Australia's cost
Gavin Mortimer
22 Sep, 8:09
Ref Watch
Ref Watch: The hand of Beauden Barrett
While New Zealand eventually beat heavily-weakened Wales by a near record-breaking margin, Wayne Pivac’s team stayed in the cont…
Paul Smith
31 Oct, 3:45
'Leaving with a very heavy heart' - EPCR poach Tony Spreadbury from RFU
English rugby referees’ chief Tony Spreadbury is to join European Professional Club Rugby as head of match officials.
PA
14 Oct, 8:00
Video - Fijian teen faces possible life ban for brutal punch that broke referee's nose
A teenage Fijian backrow is facing into a possible life ban and criminal charges for brutally punching a referee - breaking his no…
Online Editors
30 Aug, 4:35
Nigel Owens' farming exploits go viral, the World Cup final referee claiming he has never been as nervous in his life
The coronavirus pandemic has meant that many involved in rugby have had the chance to try their hand at something else and the vet…
Josh Raisey
01 Apr, 10:37
Controversial try off the kicking tee in France only eventually disallowed after review
There was brief consternation in a ProD2 match last weekend when a score in the corner created from a kick off the kicking tee was…
Josh Raisey
11 Dec, 10:37
Test level referee Ben O'Keeffe reveals how he overcame online abuse
It's not easy being on the whistle in the modern era, not only because there are so many camera angles highlighting bad decisions …
Online Editors
07 Dec, 5:03
English referees get the green light to open and close the 2020 Six Nations
The World Cup may have only just finished but preparations are well underway for next year's 2020 Six Nations with World Rugby ann…
Online Editors
04 Dec, 10:39
Rugby player banned for life for on-field attack on referee
A South Otago rugby player has been banned from playing the sport in New Zealand after punching a referee.
Online Editors
16 Nov, 4:26
'Despite clearly being the least mobile of the four quarter-final referees, Nigel Owens remains without peer'
All the focus is currently on the fall-out from the Jaco Peyper fan picture, but Nigel Owens' effort in the New Zealand-Ireland ma…
Paul Smith
22 Oct, 9:40
World Rugby accused of political correctness gone mad for punishing Peyper
Referee Jaco Peyper landed himself in trouble with World Rugby for a playful gesture in a picture taken with some Wales fans follo…
Josh Raisey
22 Oct, 8:04
Three Europeans lead the way as World Rugby picks its four quarter-final referees
Referees have been under the microscope at the World Cup for their early-round inconsistencies, but the organisers believe they ha…
Online Editors
15 Oct, 5:00
