NZR address post-match red card comments with Super Rugby teams

New Zealand Rugby have told the Super Rugby franchises to watch what they’re saying in their post-match interviews.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

A spate of red cards in recent weeks has led to plenty of discussion around the hardline approach on incidents of high and dangerous contact to the head of an opposition player.

All Blacks duo – Highlanders captain Aaron Smith and Hurricanes skipper Ardie Savea – both expressed frustration about consistency with such decisions in recent post-match interviews.

NZR’s head of professional rugby Chris Lendrum said, after the last couple of weeks, they’ve raised particular matters around post-match comments with the New Zealand teams.

“What we want to see is feedback around referees and feedback from referees to teams being made through the appropriate channels.

“The focus [should be] on the outstanding rugby that’s being played, rather than anybody’s particular views of incidents that might happen in the course of the game, that then led to comments being made in the heat of the moment.

“We all know it’s a very fast-paced and complex game to referee, there will be errors from time to time.”

As for the mounting number of red cards itself, NZR remained committed to taking an “appropriate stance on head contact.”

For those who might maintain some incidents are accidental and “part of rugby”, Lendrum said rugby had to change its attitude to head contact and player welfare.

He felt the referees had managed the issue well so far.

“I don’t think the decisions over the last couple of weeks represent any sort of dramatic shift.

“They’re just reminder of how seriously we have to take these issues in the game, and we are.

“There’s no room in the game for being lax around head injuries. We’ve taken it seriously and that will continue to be the case.”