WITH NO GAMES played on Monday at the World Cup, the match officials used it for a little gathering down in London, to have a mid-tournament briefing and some training in Regent’s Park.
World Rugby took their cameras along to capture the refs being put through their paces, and there were a few clear observations.
For starters, we often whinge about them, but it’s clear that the referees are fit as fiddles.
John Lacey is one of two IRFU referees at the tournament alongside George Clancy, while Dubliner JP Doyle is affiliated to the RFU.
As a winner of five AIL titles and eight Munster Senior Cup medals with Shannon during the 90s and 00s, Lacey was bound to have a competitive edge to him, and it was perfectly caught on camera during a training game, as he sends poor Wayne Barnes flying with a late tackle.
Co-ordination, it seems, is not Barnes’ strong point…
We haven’t got a clue either, to be honest…
Jerome Garces made Romain Poite look like a mug with this savage offload to Nigel Owens.
Even referees from New Zealand seem to be decent at rugby. Glen Jackson showing off.
You can see the full video blow.
