Rugby’s TMO to be given expanded powers to interrupt play

Breaks in play may become mroe prevelant under new guidlines - Getty Images/Charles McQuillan

More power will be granted to the television match official (TMO) to correct refereeing mistakes under new protocols that will be trialled this weekend at Twickenham.

Telegraph Sport understands that both the match between Wales and South Africa and the fixture between Fiji and the Barbarians will see the TMO handed greater influence, including the ability to alert referees to knock-ons and forward passes in real time.

A source indicated that this weekend’s teams have opted into this trial, which is not yet set to be rolled out for other international games over the coming weeks.

According to a document that was drafted this week and circulated by World Rugby on Tuesday, which has been seen by Telegraph Sport, the aim is to provide officials with “a technology-based solution to collectively make better and more accurate decisions”.

Live referrals from TMOs are intended to be used “when the on-field team has missed a clear and obvious incident/decision that does not need a formal referral”.

There will also be a change to the timeframes permitted for referrals. Previously, according to protocol, a TMO was only allowed to highlight some incidents within two phases of a try being scored.

For knock-ons, forward passes and players crossing the touchline, the officials will be able to review incidents from the beginning of the same attacking passage of play or within two phases if there is a change in possession. Potential offsides and maul obstructions retain a two-phase limit and any foul play since the previous restart will be able to be checked.

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This change has been brought about following the controversy during last year’s World Cup final, when Wayne Barnes chalked off a New Zealand try after Tom Foley, his TMO, alerted him to an Ardie Savea knock-on that had occurred three phases previously.

Technically, despite the correct decision being reached, this process breached official protocol. Although the All Blacks scored minutes later, Barnes and Foley were subsequently subjected to abuse on social media.

Under the new protocols, Foley would be able to intervene in real-time to highlight the Savea spill. On reviewing the try, the two-phase limit would not be in place and officials would be able to review any potential knock-on from the beginning of the attack in question.

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