THE UNITED RUGBY Championship have said that two of the additional sanctions imposed upon Mack Hansen and the wider Connacht squad following Hansen’s public criticism of match officiating will be ‘shaped in a more meaningful way’, and that the league intends to publicly collaborate with the Ireland wing to achieve a greater mutual understanding between players, referees and supporters.
The URC also confirmed that referee Chris Busby, who found himself at the centre of the Hansen controversy following Connacht’s defeat to Leinster at the Aviva Stadium last month, will be available for selection for the rest of the URC season. It’s understood that Busby had strongly considered an immediate retirement from refereeing.
Hansen received a three-game ban, reduced from six, and Connacht were handed a suspended €10,000 fine after the 26-year-old provided a scathing assessment of Busby’s officiating team at the Aviva in December, as well as claiming that Connacht were too often mistreated by match officials more broadly.
The Connacht and Ireland star was ordered by an independent disciplinary committee to apologise to Busby as well as to undertake a form of refereeing course and share his “learnings” with Connacht teammates.
Furthermore, Connacht were told to hold a media training session with their players to educate them on “how to conduct themselves” during post-match press conferences and similar duties.
However, the URC’s head of communications Adam Redmond confirmed to The 42 on Thursday that it has been left to the interpretation of the league as to how these additional sanctions would be implemented, and that the URC would use them only as guidance for a further-reaching campaign intended to impress upon people the challenges of being a rugby referee.
“I would say you’ll probably see something more public about what occurs as a result”, Redmond said, “and it will not necessarily be as it was described in the press release as a simple, ‘Hey guys, don’t say something bad about a referee in a post-match environment.’
“There will be very much an education exercise that will probably get applied across all 16 teams.
“In this very, very unique situation”, Redmond explained, “because it’s an independent panel, they can come up with what is a very unique clause to the disciplinary sanction, and then it is up to other people within the environment to shape that in a more meaningful and impactful way, which I hope we will.
“The illustration of what the training should be [in the disciplinary verdict] was well intended but I think we will shape that to be much more concise and effective and not just telling people the obvious.
“And what we do from that point of view, we’ll probably do externally as well.”
Asked whether the league intended to collaborate with Hansen in a front-facing campaign, Redmond said that the URC’s head of match officials Tappe Henning “has something planned”.
Redmond added: “Once that is agreed by all parties, I think we may be able to speak about that in the future.
It’s a two-way process and Tappe is very keen that the engagement that happens with Mack is seen as him having a chance to give a player’s perspective on everything.
“Out of respect to everybody, I just want to make sure that all goes in place and then we’ll comment as well as to how we’ll let the public know.”
URC refs chief Henning added in his own right: “We want something positive to come out of this — all of us in this process.
“Our focus and our best efforts will be that the game will benefit from an incident that was so sorry to happen. That’s all I can say about that for now, that we’ll try to turn it into a positive in the relationships between match officials and teams and players.”
While he was unable to comment on the specifics of Hansen’s punishment due to the disciplinary panel’s degree of separation from the URC, Henning did field a question regarding the length of time it took for the process to reach its conclusion.
This was understood to be a source of significant frustration for referee Chris Busby, with the insinuations against his integrity allowed to linger unanswered — publicly, at least — for almost three weeks. Hansen, meanwhile, started for Connacht at home to Ulster a week after his remarks.
For contrast, La Rochelle hooker Tolu Latu was red carded for foul play during a Top 14 fixture against Toulouse on 4 January and, whereas it was expected that the league’s unhurried disciplinary process would dictate that he remain available to face Leinster in the Champions Cup the following weekend, the incident was deemed serious enough that the process was completed within five days.
“It’s a straightforward answer,” said Henning. “The disciplinary process for a red card and the disciplinary process for misconduct is different.
“The disciplinary process for a player who receives a red card or who is cited can happen very quickly — that can happen before the next fixture. The disciplinary process for misconduct is a different process. There is more scope and more time for that process to take place.”
Henning, meanwhile, was keen to stress that while teams have official channels through which they can request reviews of specific incidents or trends (including via WhatsApp with Henning personally), the internal feedback loop for referees within the URC is a great deal more stringent.
He explained that every refereeing performance in the league is reviewed by a selection panel composed of George Clancy (Ireland), Nigel Owens (Wales), Neil Patterson (Scotland) and Stuart Berry (South Africa).
The match referee also self-reviews their performance before meeting with one of the aforementioned panelists for further assessment.
“If referees perform to a level of acceptability, they will continue with appointments,” Henning said.
“If they show they have difficulty to perform at this level with two or three performances that did not meet the expectations of the selectors group, there will be a period of remedial work with that referee to support them and to understand what is required: they’ll do some local games within their union and once they are confident in their understanding of the areas they need to improve, they will be given opportunity, then, to be reintroduced.”
Henning said that it typically takes five to seven years for a referee to progress from the URC’s development panel to overseeing a league game.
During the early stages of their careers, they are deployed in the domestic competition of a foreign union to remove them from their comfort zone and expose them to different rugby cultures.
“It takes a special person to be a referee,” Henning said. “You have a thicker skin than an elephant and you need to be diplomatic under very, very difficult circumstances where you are challenged live during a game.”
They really are dragging this out now
@Barry newell: How many articles and headlines did we get about Busby retiring? And then when it is confirmed he is not retiring, it is hidden half way down an article talking about Mack’s punishment?? Hansen owed an apology from all the clowns blaming him for a ref retiring, when the ref is not retiring.
@Barry newell: Being dragged out coz Hansen was mostly justified but not blaming ref on his own but I would like explanations from a misguided TMO who persisted in crap calls. They know it was a poor performance and scurrying to safe face
@Matthew Smith: If an assault doesn’t end in an injury, does that mean it is not a crime? It appears that the URC have persuaded Chris Busby to postpone his decision until the end of the season. That is despite Mack’s comments. So how is Mack Hansen now due an apology. His behaviour was still reckless and irresponsible even if it didn’t result in the worst outcome possible.
@Paul Ennis: Because some people are more interested in sticking their head in the sand and twisting any narrative to suit their biased, preestablished opinions they refuse to reconsider in any instance. In other words, a large portion of sports fans continue to be the absolute worst
@Paul Ennis: your comment addresses conclusion reached incorrectly. Which i agree with. But do you not see your own comment kind of does the same in a way? We don’t know that the URC persuaded Busby. We don’t know if that decision in spite of Hansen’s comment.
By the accounts that have been reported it seems Busby was less agrieved with Hansen’s comments primarily, and more so vexed with the delayed and prolonged handling of the matter.
@David Hickey: Potatoe, Po-tato. Mack should not have made the comments. The outcome is irrelevant. Therefore it doesn’t matter whether Chris retires or not and nobody owes Mack and apology for pointing out the connection between his comments and the reports. For the record the reports were that the referee’s representative body was very unhappy that the reaction from the URC was so slow. But it was also reported that Chris was considering retirement for various unrelated reasons and this, along with Mack’s comments, was the tipping point.
@Paul Ennis: You’ve your destination set on this Paul. Demonstrated by the fact you’ve missed the point of my comment and harped on about something I’ve actually already said in the previous comment i agree with you on.
Hopefully the ‘impress upon people the challenges of being a rugby referee.’ Has something aimed for fans, as there needs to be some reeducation on the challanges refs face and why precieved bias can appear, esp in losing teams. So fans stop blaming the referee after every close loss.
@Kingshu: Unfortunately there are many fans who will never give up on blaming the referee if their side loses
@Kevin Ryan: it’s the quality of the URC refereeing. They need to be educated along the lines of Nika Amashukeli who is a standout referee. Some of them are not good irrespective of the background reviews after every match as we don’t see improvement. Busby is one of the better referees. He explains his calls and the rationale behind them.
@Con Cussed: does anyone ever think of the financial impact a referees performance may have on bonuses etc….needs to be some accountability
@Kingshu: The thing that really seems to be lost on people is the example it sets for amateur and youths players. If you think professional referees have to put up with a barrage of clueless complaints and accusations, try going to any U15s or J3 game around the country. I have had all sorts of angry and unreasonable coaches abuse me at games and it is generally the same clubs that these things happen in because the club has long since forgotten to impress upon their members the importance of respect. Kids look at their hero’s behaviour and they replicate it.
@Kingshu: Couldn’t agree more, many sports fans are by far the most arrogant bunch and unwilling to even consider they are not always right
I’m paraphrasing but the eggchasers always make the point that if you can blame a single decision for losing a game. You could probably pick out a number of single moments that were instead the deciding factor.
I.e. be more mature and take some blame rather than shovelling the blame on anything else.
@Paul Ennis: that is s very fair comment from somebody at the coalface. I fully get your argument and now concur. You are right: it is about respect and if it gets eroded, it trickles down. You see it every w/e,I don’t. I will defer to the more knowledgeable on this one.
@Paul Ennis: Paul, I agree totally with your post. Even with modern day education for all associated with rugby there are and always will be certain individuals who think anyone in a position of authority or perceived authority are fair play for abuse.Too often people take their personal baggage and anger issues to pitch side.
Well Murray I would be writing an apology to Hansen for publishing an article stating the ref was retiring due to his comments. And all the trolls on here who were saying the same. Embarrassing.
@Matthew Smith: I stand to be corrected but if my memory serves me properly Murray did not say that Busby was retiring due to Mack’s intervention but that his intervention may have been a contributory factor. Murray is one of the most balanced rugby journalists we have and does not deserve to be tarred with the same brush as many of his knee jerk colleagues.
@Matthew Smith: He said it was understood to be a factor. Why apologise for that if it’s true?
@Matthew Smith: I agree 100%. I would also be embarrassed if I was incapable of understanding that a good outcome from a series of events doesn’t mean that the people involved shouldn’t still be held to account for their actions.
@Paul Ennis: It’s hilarious. As you say above, he’s been convinced to stay on, likely as a result of the outcome of the process and that they’re trying to do something positive for referees. It doesn’t say he’s not retiring. It doesn’t say it never had anything to do with Mack. It’s just people inventing and filling in blanks to suit their biased opinion which unfortunately shoes many people have learned nothing from this whole issue
@Matthew Smith: Even if Murray did say that. Is there any proof that it was incorrect.
@Matthew Smith: Never let the facts get in the way of good narrative Matthew.
@Matthew Smith: yeah lads, let’s start a witch hunt against Murray Kinsella now and send hate his way for something that didn’t even happen the way that you are portraying. We are so righteous and really good people.
What a poor URC response. Still no accountability..
@Liam Joyce: The article literally talks about the accountability. Sets it out in great detail. And yet some people still want to both lie and moan.
There’s a real opportunity to educate both players and supporters here. Even in this comments section there are those unwilling to even entertain the idea that they may be wrong and the ref was right. If we want to address the abuse aimed at officials, that’s where the effort needs to be though it’s definitely no harm for players to get a bit of perspective and, if they engage properly, it will help them engage with refs better during games too.
Poor on so many levels . Firstly Hansen was going after all refs not just Busby . Secondly he should be allowed speak his mind , thirdly it was refreshing to hear his honest – it adds to the URC product, they should be encouraging this
@Owen ODonoghue: you would say the same for Rassie if he comes out and says SA are always shafted by refs against Ireland right?
I never seen so many words used for “I dunno”. Best way to move on and smooth over things is always to keep bringing it up keep dancing around hoping no one will see
What a lot of old mullarkey
Is it okay to no really care about any of this?
@Thesaltyurchin: sure but only if it’s OK that we don’t care if you care or not. Not caring is the best thing about getting older… aaaahhh! So liberating!!!
Forget about it.it will be worse when 6 nations start and we will all be moaning if not us it will be the rest
Let’s wait and see if they decide that connacht alone have to do the “Media training” or everyone else is allowed to do it behind closed doors