Rugby: Why IRB Rugby Officiating Has Many Seeing Red

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: June 18, 2014

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Rugby Canada and London Irish forward Jebb Sinclair was sent off the field with a straight red card last weekend in the late stages of Canada's International Rugby Board (IRB) test match with Scotland at BMO Field in Toronto. 



The controversial decision had the effect not only of removing one of Canada's most influential players but also of overturning a Canadian penalty kick that would likely have given Canada the win. Canada would go on to lose the match by a score of 19-17. 

The furious Canadian crowd at BMO Field vented their anger at IRB referee Mike Fraser, but since then they have been joined by many across the global rugby community who are expressing outrage both at the specific call against Sinclair and the increasingly shambolic penalty standards surrounding tackles in general across the rugby world. 



First things first: As can be clearly seen by the match video, Sinclair made a strong upright run at the Scottish defence. Sinclair kept one arm tightly around the ball, while his other arm was pressed against his side in a non-threatening position. The Scottish tackler, Ruaridh Jackson, made an attempt to take Sinclair high, his head connecting with Sinclair's elbow. Jackson then fell unconscious to the turf.

To be sure, Sinclair dropped his shoulder, which is a perfectly acceptable tactic for a ball-carrier in rugby. His arm did extend following the hit; however, that has little to do with the initial point of contact. Jackson was injured largely because his tackling technique was flawed and because he was up against a much larger player moving at speed.

Aside from the frustrations that left Canadian rugby fans seething, what should be more broadly concerning to the global rugby community is the complete state of confusion concerning what is and is not an illegal tackle in the game today.

Canada Head Coach Kieran Crowley, whose team rightly...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Rugby Union

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