Owen Doyle: Intrusive TMO involvement cost Ospreys a famous win against Ulster
Decision by referee Anthony Woodthorpe and his TMO David Roseon completely misread the situation and it was a blot on the Challenge Cup
The Whistleblower
A small bone to pick with the refereeing of Hollie Davidson and Aimee Barrett-Theron
After giving a good explanation for a decision, there is no need to answer supplementary questions
Owen Doyle: Oscar Jegou incident shows why World Rugby needs to look at disciplinary protocols
French flanker’s four-match ban for eye gouging shows up many of the shortcomings of the system
Owen Doyle: England right to feel aggrieved by France’s penalty try
Nika Amashukeli did a good job overall in a match with the highest degree of difficulty and intensity
Ireland v Italy: Hollie Davidson had a very good first half, but a few calls were perplexing
Becoming the first woman to referee in the men’s Six Nations is a brilliant achievement and we will see more of her
Owen Doyle: Paris referee got big calls right, leaving Ireland with no cause for complaint
Two decisions in particular led to some rumblings, but official Karl Dickson was spot on with both
Owen Doyle: The IRFU must show Bundee Aki and us all that referee abuse is intolerable
Coaches, captains and players also have key roles to play in changing a growing, unacceptable culture
We need to understand that referees and officials won’t always get it right
Professionalism demands high levels of refereeing accuracy and judgments can often cause disagreement
Rugby referees need to remind themselves they’re not coaches
In the run-up to the Six Nations, it’s vital that refs and players know exactly what’s expected of them
Owen Doyle: Munster have good reason to feel wronged after shocking call decided defeat
Referee Karl Dickson broke the unwritten rule of not letting the whistle decide the outcome of a game
Owen Doyle: Changes to rugby’s laws need widespread buy-in, not more haste
Plenty of on-the-pitch examples should be giving World Rugby pause for thought
Owen Doyle: Referee’s split-second wrong call at Thomond Park enough for Munster faithful to see red
A premature, and incorrect, call for a forward pass may have denied Munster a vital score against Leinster
Owen Doyle: Rugby has big problems but Irish legend’s advice can steer it back on track
Willie John McBride’s proposals around replacements probably go too far for some, but he has the right idea
Owen Doyle: Rugby’s law makers must speed the game up or it risks losing its appeal
The number of box kicks is a massive concern for the game, and they mostly come from slow breakdown ball
Crosswords & Puzzles
Crosswords & puzzles to keep you challenged and entertained
Stardust
Inquests into the nightclub fire that led to the deaths of 48 people
Common Ground
How does a post-Brexit world shape the identity and relationship of these islands
Family NoticesOpens in new window
Weddings, Births, Deaths and other family notices