World Rugby set to trial new TMO changes this weekend

World Rugby have approved a new closed trial revising the scope of the Television Match Official (TMO) in the November tests hosted by Tier one unions.

The sport's governing body recently completed a full review of the TMO with a view to further reduce the reliance on the television match official and time impact, while ensuring clear, consistent and accurate on-field decision-making. The new trial will place the decision-making emphasis back on the referee and his/her assistant referees and will be implemented from this weekend. The following principles were agreed for the new trial:

• Try scoring should be an on-field decision with the referee being responsible, but the team of four can all contribute
• The current list of potential infringements for which a TMO can be referred will be retained, but any referral needs to be prompt, clear and consistent
• The ‘on the run’ chat between the match officials and TMO for foul play will be removed with the onus on the referee, who should only refer to the TMO issues that are clear and obvious serious acts of foul play, including penalty kick, yellow card or red card as a potential sanction in order to protect player welfare
• Match officials can review foul play up to when the game restarts, when a penalty is kicked to touch and when foul play footage becomes available
• Proposal to include live broadcast of the TMO in action.

World Rugby Council Member and Rugby Committee Chairman John Jeffrey said that the new trial will look to limit TMO decisions to try scoring and serious foul play.

“In reviewing the current global protocol alongside the Super Rugby protocol, the group agreed that for this trial we should place greater emphasis on on-field decision-making, with the TMO role limited to try-scoring and serious foul play, while also removing the ‘on-the-run’ conversations between the TMO and team of three match officials. “While we hope that the revised protocol will have a positive impact in terms of time impact on the game and accuracy, as with any trial, we will undertake a full review after the November window before determining whether to proceed.”