Refereeing plays a major role in rugby
View(s):Often people say; the game is not continuing and the referee uses his whistle to stop, penalise or issue a sanction. The game will flow if there is quick ball and a good platform to continue. Can we be happy that this platform is created for a good flow of the game? This is an area that has to be addressed and been handled by the SLRFU. They have in recent times done much to have world rugby accreditation courses in Sri Lanka. In 
the past few we travelled overseas and came back and boasted of qualifications. In the recent process at every programme there have been around 20 locals following a course under the guidance of local educators and foreign trainers. It is not always that all those who follow a course get accredited. Many fail to pass the line and that is an indication of what has been passed down the line. While the Union is setting the bar it is for schools where rugby begins to ensure that they have in place coaches who are accredited. At present many are paid and employed while very few look to see whether they have passed the test. The improvement of the quality starts with basics. While the Union can facilitate, to make it a reality in practice is only if the others see fit to do it right.
You will find that most scrums are not steady. If this is a starting point and you have a wobbly scrum where can you get good ball to set a platform for flowing rugby? The laws of the game require a scrum call which in practice has to be steady in every sequence of the call before the final put in. Call crouch and make sure it is steady before the next call of bind and see that it is steady before you call the set and see that there is no wobble before you invite for the ball to be put in. This ensures a steady scrum, a safe scrum, quick ball and better rugby. If you watch the scum specifically in local rugby you will see it wobbling at every call. This results in resets, collapse and poor ball. The schools season has seen a call where at each sequence you see that it is steady before the next. Some don’t like it while others criticise it and want the referee to hurry up. Probably it is because the forwards cannot hold. As games go on you will see adjustments leading to a better game and a better scrum.
If you take the break down- the tackle ruck and maul; what do you see? The tackler holds on to the tackled player or the tackled player not releasing the ball as though that is what he is supposed to do. Maybe he does so that others of his team can get there. In other words he waits for support and thereby slows down the game. Then what follows is players coming from sides, diving over, hands in ruck etc: If you have quick ball at the break down there will be less penalties and less yellow cards. If you analyse teams that give less penalties in a game it is those that play better at the break down.
I have seen this penalised in the last two weeks of schools rugby and soon it will get better. This will be almost a culture shock as the penalties come and the players seem to say; “I don’t know why.” And coaches seem to say the same thing. When repeated infringements in this areas are penalised or players issued a yellow card the inevitable is a shrug of shoulders to say I dint know why.
Away from the break down and to General Play the problem is in dangerous play. Most penalties are due to high tackles, late tackles, stiff arm tackles and no hands in a tackle. Addressing these areas will result in a better game and fifteen players on the field.
The issue that will be a talking point and debated is the rolling maul that Royal does to a high degree of perfection and is a dangerous weapon in their hands. Do not keep asking whether it is legal as what I have seen is within the law. Learn how to counter this maul and then you could do better to defend it. You got to stop it at the base or else all coaches will go insane when the rolling maul becomes a wonder movement.
It is in the midst of making the game better the question having a steady platform is in the air again. With the general ruling of the Minister of Sport being published and the annual general meeting required to be held before the end of May there are a few worries in the minds of enthusiasts. Some think if most at the top are not eligible to contest there will be gap that is created that may not be good. That is because in May we have to play in the ARFU Division One tournament. I am sure this would have been in the plans of the Union and the selectors will have to do the needful in getting a pool together. The problem will be about a coach which the current council can decide on. It is the game that matters most and what has to be done is what is good for the game. Rugby will still move on and I am sure all those who were in the council have rugby at heart and do what is best.
To make a point of what was talked above take the school game Kingswood against St. Peter’s played at Bogambara. The score line was close (13 -12) prompting some to exclaim “what a game”. The match was a bore throughout. Fumbling at critical times was common to both teams. Scrums were rarely steady and the breakdown was a disaster. It was a disappointment to see these two teams who have performed at top levels in schools rugby, play this way. At times I wondered whether the AR might have to wake up the referee as he could have fallen asleep. The sore point of a bad game was the spectator behaviour against the referee who awarded a penalty to St. Peter’s in the last minute and the game was decided by 13 points to 12. Play better rugby and you will not have to blame anybody else.
* Vimal Perera is a former player, coach, referee and an IRB Accredited Referees’ Educator