By Jonathan B Geddes; Image Karen Watson

SHUTE Shield coaches and club officials have been warned of “severe penalties” and games being stopped as part of a crackdown on the worrying increase in abuse of referees and assistant referees this season.

The decisive measure is contained in a document titled “DISCIPLINARY POLICY AND ABUSE” which was sent to all clubs by the Sydney Rugby Union, a copy of which was anonymously forwarded to Rugby News.

“This season has seen more incidences of questionable behaviour from attendants and coaches,” the correspondence sent to the clubs stated. “Some have not formally been reported but have come via phone calls and match reports from both refs and Ars (assistant referees).

“If you have not made ALL coaches and attendants aware of the recent directive re Match Official abuse please do so asap.”

BEHAVE YOURSELVES

THE document said all referees and assistant referees have been asked to report “any incidence of abuse, foul language, questionable remarks etc etc” to both the match day manager and to their referee coordinator.

“And if the behaviour persists the game will be stopped!!,” the clubs were told.

“Attendants such as trainers, water runners etc will face severe penalties if this behaviour continues.”

The email also told clubs that water runners and S&C staff are not to call out to match officials.   CLUBS’ SUPPORT  

SYDNEY Rugby Union president Grahame O’Donnell strongly endorsed the initiative and told Rugby News that all the Shute Shield clubs are united in stopping abuse of the match officials.

“Our operational team are very clear that respect for our officials is of the utmost importance,” O’Donnell said. 

“The SRU board and management, along with all the clubs have all bought into it. It is all of us together.

“Basically, we have a no-tolerance policy towards that behaviour, especially when it is volunteers who are getting abused; it is just not on.  

“If someone is abused and a president hears it, they will be the first to punish their own.

“The stance will continue and there is no excuse for it.”

O’Donnell said club rugby had always relied on a fantastic group of volunteers.

“They go out there week in-week out to do the best by their clubs, and we need every one we can get,” he said.

The SRU’s firm stance and zero-tolerance policy is to be applauded. There is no room for such conduct in the game at any level.

Italian head coach Gonzalo Quesada recently became the first coach to be banned under World Rugby’s newly implemented Match Official Abuse Sanctioning Process, handed a one -Test suspension by the governing body. 

He was banned from all match-day proceedings, including being present in the stadium, for Italy’s Test against Australia in Perth.

NO GO ZONES

THE document reveals restrictions on where coaches are allowed to go during games. They were reminded of the regulation that they are not permitted in “the playing enclosure”.

“The playing enclosure is the whole playing field and ground or perimeter area surrounding it,” the document said.

“On oval fields such as North Sydney Oval, Manly Oval, Chatswood Oval coaches are NOT to stand behind the goal posts or anywhere within the fences.”

The edict includes all head, grade and Colts coaches.

“Coaches are only permitted to enter the playing enclosure and field at half time if players do not access the change rooms,” they were told.

Clubs were also reminded that social media was not the platform for members and players to provide feedback on match officials.