RFU 'Fat-shaming' culture blocked referees' progression

[Rossm]

Well, well well.
So as we suspected, ability has nothing to do with it.

Report  by the Beeb.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/63156026

Referees missed out on officiating top rugby matches because selectors were unfairly critical of their body shape, the Rugby Football Union has admitted.

An investigation commissioned by the RFU has found referees were judged on "body size, weight or shape", even if they had passed fitness assessments.

[JF]

Note the use of "body shape".

It seems that being fat-headed is no barrier.

[WonkyWasp]

How can you say a ref has a 'bad' body shape when you consider all the varieties of body shapes of the players?  And most of the players are of not inconsiderable weight but can still run and last 80 minutes.  Bonkers.

[Raggs]

Fitness for refs needs to be very high. They're expected to get around the pitch like scrum halves, but then also chase every single kick. Their running fitness levels must be insanely high. Doesn't make discriminating against someone who's passed the tests right though.

[Heathen]

Are they any better than the top rated refs of 20 years ago?

In my day we were just glad to a have a referee appointed for our games!

[wasps]

Are they any better than the top rated refs of 20 years ago?

In my day we were just glad to a have a referee appointed for our games!

I don't know if they're better, that's pretty subjective, especially based on what the refs were asked to focus on at any given time.


However, I'd say they're definitely fitter these days.




If you watch that horrific game against Gloucester when LRZ ran the full length of the pitch to score against us, the ref started on Gloucester's 5m line when LRZ got the ball. When LRZ scored, the ref was on our 5m line.


This may be an exception, and there may have been exceptions in the past too, but I remember many a game in the past where the ref had given up the chase around the half way line

[DGP Wasp]

Got to be honest, I struggle to keep up when reffing my son's U10s these days!

[Raggs]

Got to be honest, I struggle to keep up when reffing my son's U10s these days!

Pitches keep getting bigger! I'm generally going for long range reffing, or keeping them playing on small pitches "to help with contact skills"....

[DGP Wasp]

Got to be honest, I struggle to keep up when reffing my son's U10s these days!

Pitches keep getting bigger! I'm generally going for long range reffing, or keeping them playing on small pitches "to help with contact skills"....

Problem with long range reffing is the deteriorating eyesight!

[Bloke in North Dorset]

Got to be honest, I struggle to keep up when reffing my son's U10s these days!

Pitches keep getting bigger! I'm generally going for long range reffing, or keeping them playing on small pitches "to help with contact skills"....

Problem with long range reffing is the deteriorating eyesight!

Referees being notorious for poor eyesight, so it won’t make much difference 😉