Nigel Owens, the popular Welshman, has called for some major changes in rugby following the World Cup. He believes that the game is at a crossroads and needs to adapt. In his column for Wales Online, Owens highlighted three key issues that need to be addressed.
Firstly, Owens expressed his concern about the use of the TMO (Television Match Official) and the bunker. He feels that the TMO is currently refereeing games, which is not how it should be. According to Owens, the on-field officials should have the final say in making important decisions. Having six people involved in the decision-making process, including the on-field officials, TMO, and the bunker, is too many. Owens believes that the man in the middle, the referee, should be the one making those crucial decisions. He also mentioned that referees are no longer giving red cards themselves on the field, which he thinks is wrong. This excessive use of technology is not only causing controversy but also leading to abuse towards referees.
Owens also expressed his opinion on the use of technology in the game as a whole. He believes that it is being used too much and that the TMO should only be used as a last resort. Owens suggests reeling back the powers of the TMO and only using it to check the grounding or the act of scoring a try, as it was done a few years ago.
Overall, Owens believes that rugby needs to make some significant changes to address these issues. The excessive use of technology and the involvement of multiple decision-makers are taking away from the appeal of the game for supporters. By reducing the reliance on technology and giving more authority to the on-field officials, Owens believes that the game can regain its integrity and eliminate unnecessary controversy.