Nigel Owens: World Rugby needs to get tough on encroachment

Former Test referee Nigel Owens wants World Rugby to get tough on coaches and water carriers entering the field of play and questioning officials’ decision-making. Photo credit: Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

Former Test referee Nigel Owens wants World Rugby to get tough on coaches and water carriers entering the field of play and questioning officials’ decision-making.

Wales assistant coach Neil Jenkins was seen arguing with French referee Mathieu Raynal during his country’s final Guinness Six Nations match with Italy last weekend while earlier in the championship, France assistant William Servat, acting as a water carrier, wandered across Italy’s goal kicker Paolo Garbisi line of sight as he prepared to take a potentially match-winning penalty in Lille at the end of their round-three game.