What rugby must do to keep mischief-making water carriers in check
Take a break, have a KitKat. A familiar advertising campaign from several years back, but also a catchphrase with which supporters of one Greene King IPA Championship side have become very familiar…
The role of the rugby water carriers has come to wider public awareness since Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus donned a fluorescent bib and headset during the summer series against the Lions. He also carried water bottles when he remembered.
Last weekend the subject of on-field H2O again reared its head as referee Wayne Barnes was twice required to send off Wasps coaches disguised as water carriers for what their subsequent disciplinary hearing described as “conduct prejudicial to the interests of the union and the game”.
The Coventry club’s head of performance, Pete Atkinson, was despatched to the sidelines immediately following Exeter’s second try – a great finish by Facundo Cordero – for comments made to the referee.
And he was joined in the technical area in the second half by backs and transition coach Scott Barrow, who triggered a pitch-side fracas with his sly attempt to slow down play and prevent Exeter players from recovering the ball behind the home side’s posts.
Both have since been banned from attending their club’s visit to Saracens on Sunday in a working capacity and – amusingly – been given a naughty-schoolboy-style punishment which requires them to present the contents of Premiership Rugby’s rules for technical area staff to the rest of Wasps’ off-field staff.
DISCIPLINARY: Verdict issued following online hearing regarding two incidents that happened last Saturday at Wasps#Wasps #WASvEXE #GallagherPrem
https://t.co/3XDSHy2ZJT— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 20, 2021
English rugby regulations allow two water carriers and three medics per team to operate within the playing enclosure – the area inside the advertising boards. The team manager is the only other person permitted in the technical area with the independent doctor, replacements, fourth official and reserve referee.
But, as is invariably the case in professional sport, the clubs have used technology to push the envelope way beyond what was ever envisaged in an attempt to achieve small gains.
Having experienced this situation closely at first hand, there are various aspects to the problems being caused.
This whole issue stems from the director of rugby or head coach almost never being content to allow his players to make game-management decisions and therefore needing a way to communicate with them while play is going on.
Think it’s the captain or fly-half who opts to kick to the corner instead of taking three points? Think again.
As rugby’s authorities began to understand the physiological dangers of dehydration the idea of regular water breaks, which coincide with injury stoppages or when play stops for a conversion, seemed to make sense – doubly so in warmer climes.
But while the men in suits probably envisaged a couple of ball boys trotting on with a few bottles, the clubs quickly spotted an opportunity to get coaching staff closer to the action. While the medics are all qualified physiotherapists they are also capable, albeit sometimes reluctantly, of passing on a tactical message.
Two of them are also allowed to track play along the sidelines, which brings us to the subject of chocolate bars! Bluetooth headsets allow the boss in the stand to have an open line to all five personnel who are allowed pitch-side, plus the dug-out.
“KitKat” is the coded instruction used by one Championship club’s DOR when the game needs slowing down or stopping for tactical reasons. When any of the pitch-side staff hear this through their headset they instantly yell it at their front row and one of them feigns injury.
Since the game cannot continue beyond the next set-piece without six fit front row forwards, the majority of the time the referee stops play regardless of how suspicious he/she may be.
The problem that Premiership Rugby faces here is that preventing dehydration and having medics very close to the action are both essential tools in dealing with injury prevention and wider player well-being. But despite this, it is surely time to apply some common sense and stop this give-them-an-inch-and-they-take-a-mile scenario.
In the British climate, do players really need access to limitless water? Instead, how about one scheduled water break in the middle of each half which the referee times to coincide with a break in play. There would then be no issue with coaches going on the field during what could be a strictly timed 90-second interlude.
Further, while the medical staff clearly need an open line in case of emergency, why do the coaches or management of either team need the ability to access this? I would legislate to prevent this happening and heavily punish any club found by the fourth official or reserve referee to be using medical staff for tactical purposes.
While this all seems draconian, if nothing is done it is only a matter of time before we have rugby water carriers fighting with players, each other or sparking a major incident on the touchline.
It would also require senior players to go back to the days when they had decision-making responsibility.
And as an added benefit, a KitKat would go back to being a chocolate bar…
What is it with waterboys at the moment? ??
Credit: @btsportrugby | #WASvEXEpic.twitter.com/EfYooZuX0X
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 16, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
I guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
43 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
3 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
43 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
43 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
3 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
6 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
2 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
6 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to comments