Rugby braced for ‘World Cup betting scandal’

Gambling syndicate ‘tried to influence ref’

A World Cup referee is under threat of being overlooked for future international fixtures because of concerns over several of his decisions during the 2003 tournament.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports today that senior rugby officials have in recent weeks closely analysed numerous World Cup matches and had noted that, in at least one match, there were a number of debatable decisions. In one match, it is believed officials found fault with at least 10 of the refereeing decisions.

The issue is expected to be discussed at this week’s International Rugby Board conference, being held in Auckland. IRB officials are also expected to interview the referee over the match. If they are unhappy with his explanation, he may be cut from Test rugby. The role of touch judges in several World Cup matches has also been placed under scrutiny to ensure their involvement led to correct decisions at important moments in games. While the bulk of World Cup coaches and players were generally happy with the standard of refereeing during the 2003 tournament, several were privately concerned about inconsistencies, especially in the area of the tackle and at the set pieces.

Meanwhile, the IRB is to consider outlawing some defensive kicks to help speed up rugby union.

Chairman Syd Millar said yesterday that the proposal, banning kicks directly into touch following passes back into the 22-metre area from scrums or line-outs, had come from Australia coach Eddie Jones.

“It will mean you will have to clear the ball from the site of the line-out or scrum and that will no doubt mean the ball will be in play longer,” Millar said, adding the recommendation would be discussed at the IRB’s next meeting in June. Millar was speaking after an IRB conference on the game, which was attended by many of the world’s leading coaches, referees, players and administrators, including England’s Clive Woodward, coach of the World Cup winners.

The conference also looked at laws relating to the tackle, scrums, lineouts, rucks and mauls, as well as issues such as injuries and safety.Woodward received the clarification he was after on his pet subject of decoy runners at the conference. Woodward was against rugby’s laws being altered, but he did call for their interpretation to be tightened. “The law on decoy runners is fine, it’s the interpretation of it,” he said. “You just need to be working from the same mindset. England do exactly the same as every other country, so we’re no angels at it.

“My own personal view is that it needs tightening in terms of the interpretation, refereeing of it, no more than that.”