This weekend, several rugby teams will participate in a trial giving the television match official (TMO) increased authority to rectify referee errors during matches. The revised protocol empowers the TMO to notify referees of knock-ons and forward passes in real-time, thereby bolstering technological support to facilitate more precise decision-making.
Distributed by World Rugby, the trial protocol aims to enable TMOs to make live referrals for evident incidents or decisions, and review incidents from the start of the same attacking passage of play or within two phases in case of a change in possession. This encompasses potential offsides, maul obstructions, and any foul play since the previous restart. These alterations are a response to a contentious incident during the 2020 World Cup final, where a try was disallowed after a TMO alerted the referee to an earlier knock-on that violated the official protocol.
Under these new protocols, the TMO will have the authority to intervene in real-time for potential infractions, unrestricted by the previous two-phase rule. While this trial will be introduced this weekend, its implementation in other international games in the upcoming weeks is as yet undetermined.
Evidently, these new protocols aim to strike a balance between upholding the game’s flow and ensuring precise refereeing decisions. The objective is for officials to receive technological support in making better and more accurate decisions.
As rugby continues to embrace technology to aid in match officiating, only time will reveal the impact of the expanded powers granted to the TMO on the game. Nevertheless, this weekend’s matches will undoubtedly be watched closely as these innovative trial protocols are put to the test.