Craig on the right side of the law now
Craig Joubert’s early rugby days were spent on the wrong side of the law; as a youngster he was a talented player – representing Natal in the flyhalf berth for the Primary Schools Craven Week.
Shortly thereafter, on the grounds of Maritzburg College, he would go on to ref his first game. Having earned his stripes in schoolboy rugby, Joubert moved swiftly up the ranks and is now one of the top referees in South Africa. In addition, he has the honour of being on the IRB International Referees Panel.
Recently in Brisbane on Super 14 duty, Joubert talked to rugby365.com about the merits of technology in rugby, the Super 14 season, and where his whistle has taken him over the years.
Prior to the Super 14, Joubert was one of the SA refs to trial new practices for referees, and he feels that technology has a role to play in the future of the game.
“We have always had an open mind with regards to the potential use of technology. A few years ago a TMO would have been unheard of, and in football it is conspicuous by its absence, yet it has been common place in rugby for the last decade. In the Super 14 warm up games in South Africa we made some positive and progressive moves towards trialling the extended use of technology. Mark Lawrence and Jonathan Kaplan refereed with a camera attached to their heads to give a view of what the referee sees and I was my own TMO where I consulted a video monitor behind the dead ball line to make a TMO decision. These experiments were merely that, experiments, and while some refining is required Rugby Union certainly can’t be accused turning a blind eye to the benefits of technology.”
Always the subject of much scrutiny, the referees are now under added pressure for applying laws that some feel are responsible for the outbreak of excessive kicking in the game. Before the start of this year’s competition, those in charge sat down to find a solution to the problem.
“In a meeting between Super 14 coaches and referees it was suggested that the ‘aerial ping pong’ that characterized the game in 2009 was largely due to the fact that referees were too lenient on players advancing in front of the kicker. By allowing offside players to set up defensive systems the guy who catches the ball is faced with a wall of defenders and has no option but to put up the bomb. Out of that meeting came a huge focus for the referees in 2010 to ensure that players in front of a kicker do not advance until put onside in terms of law.”
According to Joubert, the scrutinising of kick-chasers is not the only law getting attention from the refs.
“This year’s Super 14 is characterized by a ‘Big 4’ focus by referees. In addition to the point about ensuring offside players at kicks do not advance, we are also adopting a zero-tolerance approach at the scrum with regards to ensuring that the engagement procedure is followed and at scrum collapses. Another thing we are looking to ensure is that the formation of mauls at line outs and kick offs are in accordance with law and that defenders have access to the ball carrier and are not blocked.”
An area of constant debate in rugby circles, the final point of focus for the referees is the tackle area; in particular the responsibilities of the tackler.
“We need to ensure that tacklers act in accordance with law. They must roll away from the tackled player and release and get to their feet before contesting the ball. Analysis revealed that we (the referees) had become too lenient with regards to tacklers and were allowing them to contest possession while getting to their feet and winning turnovers and penalties with illegal technique. Another important focus pertains to a player who remains on his feet yet is involved in bringing an opponent to ground; this player also needs to release the tackled player before he can legally contest possession. “
These days, referees have the ‘luxury’ of refereeing games outside the Super 14 using the same laws as the southern hemisphere showpiece. To that end, Joubert will be in Ireland this year to take charge of one of their Six Nations encounters. Despite the pressure, he says he does make an effort to appreciate the magnitude of the event when he can.
“I refereed Ireland vs. England at Croke Park last year and it was an unbelievable experience. I can’t wait to get back in March to referee Ireland vs. Wales. The Six Nations is a very special tournament to referee with all its tradition. It’s the only tournament left in world rugby which still has black tie after match functions and these are always special occasions. It is impossible not to be stirred by the anthems at these mega stadiums or by the singing that characterize stadiums like Croke Park and the Millennium Stadium. For the most part these Test Matches require such an intense concentration but I always ensure that I take time out during a kick at goal or at an injury break to breathe in the atmosphere and enjoy the occasion.”
Joubert has refereed in some of the finest stadiums in world rugby, but in picking a favourite he points to one close to home.
“Twickenham has got history, The Millennium stadium atmosphere, the Welsh signing and a closed roof, Stade De France is a modern marvel, Murrayfield has the Flower of Scotland, Stadium Australia has had the biggest crowd in rugby history. Eden Park holds the ghosts of the 1981 Springbok tour and ‘The flourbomb test’, Croke Park has Sunday Bloody Sunday, Kings Park has the after match festivities, Newlands has the Table mountain backdrop – they are all special stadiums. But the one I love refereeing at the most is Loftus Versfeld. An atmosphere unlike anywhere else in world rugby and supporters who are rabid; a truly unique and special stadium.”
International appointments have given the Durban man a chance to see some of the most exciting destinations worldwide. Ongoing Tri-Nations and Super 14 duties have enabled him to explore much of Australasia, a place he has grown fond of.
“I love Sydney. We usually stay in a place called Coogee beach which is a little seaside area in Sydney not far from the more famous Bondi Beach. Coogee is special for the great little eating places, a stunning beach, the Coast golf course and the Tues night poker tournaments at the local pub. Brisbane also has a very special place in my heart. Queensland people are good folk and I have many very close friends who I always enjoy catching up with. The sunshine coast north of Brisbane is the world’s best stretch of coastline – outside of the South African Wild Coast! The Gold Coast south of Brisbane is golf heaven and the expat South Africans down at Hope Island are very good to me and I’ve had some special golf experiences down there. Christchurch reminds me so much of Maritzburg (where I grew up) with a country feel and a river running through it. Some of the best golf courses in New Zealand, Queenstown not too far away and a poker room at the local casino complete the stay!”
Joubert has also enjoyed his visits to the north of the equator.
“I love Paris – one of the world’s great cities where you see something new every time you visit. Maurice’s restaurant in the middle of the river Seinne is a special experience of French cuisine, wine and cognac from the year of your birth to wash it all down! New York is special too. Although rugby has only ever once taken me to the Big Apple, it has got to be the world’s most recognizable city and bumping into David Beckham and Michael Owen while window shopping at Tiffanies on 5th Avenue was a memorable experience. A visit to ground zero was both eerie and surreal. I also still get a buzz every time I visit London. The first city outside of South Africa I ever visited, I still try to ensure that I get to a show down on the West End every time I’m in London and catching up with Barnsey [Wayne Barnes] is always fun and unpredictable!”
It’s not only Barnes that Joubert sees when he goes on tour; he mentions that there is plenty of camaraderie within reffing circles.
“Some of my best mates are my refereeing colleagues around the world. We tend to meet up with each other regularly around the world and most are very hospitable when visiting their home city.”
Because of that strong bond, Joubert was quick to jump to the defence of former colleague Willie Roos, and damn the actions of those responsible for his decision to leave the game.
“Willie [Roos’s] retirement was down to a disgraceful incident which I strongly condemn. We are already short of referees and that incident in Kimberly chased away a hugely experienced Test, Super 14 and Currie Cup referee which was truly regrettable for rugby in general.”
Joubert stresses that the refereeing world can ill afford to lose so much experience, but is hopeful that drives to recruit young referees will yield good results in the future.
“The South African referees association is on a strong drive to recruit referees. Incidents like the one in Kimberly don’t help encourage people to get into refereeing. Maritzburg College, where I went to school and started refereeing, and the Midlands Refereeing society run a very good schoolboy referees program which has produced many provincial referees. Hopefully more schools can initiate programs like Maritzburg College have done and encourage more schoolboys to take up the whistle should they be unable to play for any reason.”
Though for those thinking about taking up the whistle, Joubert is frank about the hard work and dedication needed to make it as a top-level referee.
“A lot of people think that professional refereeing involves rocking up on a Saturday afternoon and working for 80 minutes, I can assure you there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye. During the week we work off a very advanced “fair play” system, which is a computer based viewing system that allows us to analyse games in minute details, complete comprehensive self-reviews of our previous weekends performances as well as prepare for the coming weekends fixtures. Matches are physically demanding involving 8 – 10 km of interval running during a typical Super 14 game. Specific training programs need to be followed religiously. Travel is a big component of refereeing at the top level and in 2007 I spent 182 days overseas refereeing and a further 30 away locally within South Africa.”
Joubert’s next appointment is in Cape Town for the match between the Stormers and Brumbies. Another weekend spent away from home, but a chance to see yet another stadium on his world tour of rugby. The job of a referee can be a thankless one – with constant accusations of bias, cheating, and varying levels of vision impairment, it’s a wonder anyone chooses to get into it. Thankfully Joubert and his colleagues have dedicated much of their lives to making sure the game is controlled in the most professional manner possible. As the old saying goes, without a referee you have no game, so we can be grateful to them for making sure we can look forward to our Saturday afternoons.
By Keith Moore
