Referees have been under a microscope from the outset of this Rugby World Cup, to the extent some eagle eyed observers have noticed a glaring absence: the distinct lack of a timepiece on the official's wrists.
Scrutiny of referees, such as the backlash that faced English official Matt Carley after Wales narrow 32-26 victory over Fiji, is common place in the modern game.
Relive those final moments one more time and experience that crazy ending!#RWC2023 #WALvFIJ pic.twitter.com/j2w1hQibKu
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 12, 2023
With even the laws of the game being brought in to question by some fans over the last few weeks, after Felix Jones and the South African coaching staff's innovative signalling and bench compositions, it's a particularly difficult time to be a referee.
The job has been made more challenging by a row over watches.
Time Off?
The bare wrists of officials is certainly not something tournament organisers would have been expecting to worry about. However, as reported by Stuff.nz, a fall out between the referees and official tournament sponsors, Tudor, has led to the men in the middle boycotting their time pieces altogether.
Tudor have been an official sponsor for Rugby Union's global showpieces since 2017 and their marketing campaign throughout the tournament has been strongly aligned with 'rugby values', as they outline on their website and social media.
The stage is set. The countdown is on. ⌚#RWC2023 | #100DTG | With Tudor pic.twitter.com/jaRjqCcyTL
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) May 31, 2023
At the 2019 Rugby World Cup each official was given a Tudor watch to be worn during matches, and of course the referees were able to keep them after the tournament had concluded. You can see referee Angus Gardner's watch below.
21 September 2019; Referee Angus Gardner during the 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between France and Argentina at the Tokyo Stadium in Chofu, Japan. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Stuff have reported that Tudor decided not to provide referees with watch after one of the 2019 refs, who has since retired, who decided to sell the watch after the tournament had concluded. Given the choice between purchasing their own Tudor watch or a wearing a Garmin watch, it is reported the referees collectively decided to forgo wearing a watch on the field.
A World Rugby spokesperson provided a statement to the Telegraph denying element of the Stuff report, saying that it was agreed before the tournament that Tudor would not provide watches for refs at this tournament.
The statement read:
“World Rugby and Tudor enjoy a fantastic relationship. Media reports that suggest that there is a dispute over the provision of watches for Rugby World Cup 2023 are completely inaccurate. It was agreed well in advance of the tournament that Tudor would not provide new watches (having been provided at the beginning of the deal), but that referees could wear their existing Tudor watches or their usual electronic performance devices. Tudor is also proud to partner on the shot clocks in stadia, which are an essential tool for match officials.”
It leaves referees in a very unusual situation of having to rely entirely on the official match timekeeper, a protocol introduced by World Rugby to over see the management of clock stopping and the new "shot clock" for penalty kicks and conversions.
SEE ALSO: Bernard Jackman Praised For World Class Analysis Of France Attack
