By Brendan Cole
IRB Referee Manager Paddy O’Brien is to step down in a major re-structuring of officiating, while referees Wayne Barnes and Dave Pearson have missed out on June Test match appointments.
O’Brien, formerly in charge of all refereeing appointments, is to take charge of the Sevens game in a move that sees the leave what is arguably the most influential role in the world game.
No replacement for O'Brien has been appointed yet but the IRB has announced a new process which will see officials picked on “form” by a selection committee that will convene four times a year.
The New Zealander has been in the role for seven years, and leaves of his own accord according to the IRB.
However, he has been the subject of criticism both for failing to act when referees performed poorly.
The IRB's handling of changes to the tackle laws in 2009 was also widely criticised.
The new committee selection procedure is part of a plan designed to deliver more consistency.
The four-member committee will include Ireland’s Donal Courtney, Clayton Thomas of Wales, Lyndon Bray of New Zealand and Tappe Henning of South Africa. The new structure means the committee is divided between two referees from the Six Nations and two from the "SANZAR" unions.
Following a performance review of the matches during the Six Nations, the IRB also announced the nine referees it will use for the June international window. Two Irish referees – George Clancy and Alain Rolland – have made the list.
English duo Wayne Barnes and Dave Pearson, Bryce Lawrence of New Zealand and Jonathan Kaplan of South Africa are the most high profile names to miss out.
The nine are are George Clancy (Ireland), Jérôme Garcès (France), Craig Joubert (South Africa), Nigel Owens (Wales), Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Romain Poite (France), Alain Rolland (Ireland) and Steve Walsh (Australia).
Barnes was involved in a controversial decision in Ireland’s Six Nations defeat to Wales, awarding a penalty to Wales which they kicked to win the match. He also yellow carded Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris for the tackle.
Opinions were divided after the match on whether the tackle should have been penalised and a citing committee subsequently stated that Barnes had been wrong to award a penalty.
The IRB subsequently released a statement backing Barnes.
Barnes had earlier in the match advised by Pearson, who was a linesman on the day, yellow carded Bradley Davis for inverting Ireland lock Donnacha Ryan and dropping him on the ground in an off the ball “tackle”.
Even Wales coach Warren Gatland admitted afterwards that a red card would probably have been merited.
Pearson’s handling of the second half of Ireland’s Six Nations draw with France was also widely critcised.
Lawrence was the referee of a highly controversial Rugby World Cup quarter-final victory for Australia and South Africa after which he was widely criticised for his loose handling of the breakdown. He also famously failed to red card Schalk Burger for eye-gouging during the Lions first Test against South Africa in 2009.
It was also announced that Nigel Owens will referee the first two Test clashes between Ireland and New Zealand with Romain Poite to take charge of the third.
The IRB announced that they have identified five key areas of focus for referees.
They are:
- All aspects of the tackle with particular emphasis to be placed on the tackler releasing the tackled player and rolling away and arriving players staying on their feet
- Offside at the breakdown
- Offside from kicks
- All aspects of the scrum, particularly the engagement process and front-row binding
- All aspects of the maul, particularly what constitutes legal maul defence
Commenting on the announcement, acting chairman of the selection committee and IRB Council member for Scotland John Jeffrey said: "The IRB is committed to ensuring that the platform is in place to promote the very best refereeing standards at the elite level of the Game.
"Our priority is the continued promotion of consistency and performance and our strategic goal is to deliver the best available panel for Rugby World Cup 2015 while at the same time applying the best-for-best principle in the selection of referees for each international window."
Jeffry, a 40-times capped former Scotland flanker who was part of the 1990 Grand Slam winning side, added: "There will be consistent movement in and out of the panel based on form to reward the top performers and those making the step up as we build towards RWC 2015 in England.
"In short, this means that referees are selected on merit, in form and closer to the matches being played. All member Unions are committed to this process, which is essential for its success."
The latest refereeing appointments for the Heineken Cup have also been announced.
Pearson will take charge of Leinster's clash with Cardiff Blues on Saturday, 7 April, while Roman Poite will take charge of the Munster v Ulster derby clash on the Sunday, 8 April.
Heineken Cup referees:
Saturday, 7 April
3pm Edinburgh Rugby v Toulouse - Murrayfield
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wal); Assistant referee 1: Andrew Small (Eng), Assistant referee 2: Stuart Terheege (Eng)
5.45pm Leinster Rugby v Cardiff Blues - Aviva Stadium
Referee: Dave Pearson (Eng); Assistant referee 1: Pascal Gauzere (Fra), Assistant referee 2: David Changleng (Sco)
Sunday, 8 April
1.45pm Munster Rugby v Ulster Rugby - Thomond Park
Referee: Romain Poite (Fra); Assistant referee 1: Jerome Garces (Fra), Assistant referee 2: Matthieu Raynal (Fra)
4.30pm Saracens v ASM Clermont Auvergne - Vicarage Road
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ire); Assistant referee 1: Neil Paterson (Sco), Assistant referee 2: Simon McDowell (Ire)
