VIDEO: World Rugby's request salvages referees' reputations

‘Chirping’ the match officials – during and after the match – had almost become the norm in recent years.

However, the frequency of players and coaches’ questioning and criticising match officials during United Rugby Championship games has declined drastically in the opening rounds of the 2025-26 season.

URC Head of Match Officials, Tappe Henning, said there were good reasons why players show more respect to match officials.

Henning revealed that a ‘pre-season’ preparation session with coaches set the stage for the more ‘respectful’ approach to ‘questioning’ decisions.

“World Rugby asked us, as competitions, to build good relationships [with players and coaches] and provide opportunities for the captain, when relevant, to ask the referee a question,” he told @king365ed.

“We agreed with coaches that if the captains do it amicably, with respect, we will focus on and understand their needs.

“The referee will do his best to answer the captain, so they understand the decision or the reasons for not making a call.”

The new approach also aims not to interrupt the game or become a focus point of the game.

They also implemented a workable system.

(WATCH as URC Head of Match Officials, Tappe Henning, chats to Jan de Koning about a change in ‘attitude’ towards referees by teams…..)

“After a try has been scored, the captain won’t walk in front of the kicker and challenge the referee about something,” Henning said.

“If he [the captain] gets a message from the sideline, he will go to the AR [assistant referee], who will relay it to the referee.

“The TMO will also hear that message.

“The referee will relay to the TMO, while everything continues, in a much better way that what we previously saw.”

Henning said he is ‘pleased’ that captains no longer ‘charge’ at the match officials and that coaches also “bought into” the new system.

“It is good for the game that there are cordial relationships between captains and match officials.

“We do understand that captains are under pressure in the heat of the moment, giving everything for their team.

“They may sometimes disagree with the referee’s decision, and it can upset them.

“We are getting to a point where we are dealing with it professionally, with respect from both ends, so that we can get the best outcome and understanding for the game.

“They may still disagree with the decision, but we will give a good explanation, and we can have further discussions afterwards, move forward and learn from it.

“If we need to make some adjustments, either on our [match officials] or the teams’ side, we will do that.

“That relationship is becoming important in terms of managing the game between the two captains and the referee.”

@rugby365com