The upcoming Rugby World Cup warm-up matches will feature several innovations to enhance the game and the viewer experience for those buying tickets. Among these innovations are a shot clock to prevent time-wasting and a “Bunker” review system for upgrading yellow cards to red.
Referees will wear body cameras during the matches, although they will not use them for in-game decisions. The cameras will enhance the television-viewing experience, but the footage will be used for post-match disciplinary hearings.
Hawk-Eye technology will be used as the independent video replay operator to assist referees in making decisions. The Summer Nations Series, which involves 12 international teams and runs over five weekends from July 29, will be a platform for these new technologies.
The shot clock, privately trialed during the Six Nations this year, will now be visible on stadium screens and television broadcasts. It will be set at 90 seconds for conversions and 60 seconds for penalty kicks to speed up play so that the fans with tickets to the matches will also have transparency.
The “Bunker” review system aims to provide referees with more support when determining if an offense warrants a red card. Referees can ask for a second opinion and send a player to the sin bin for 10 minutes while a “Foul Play Review Officer” assesses the footage to decide if a yellow card is sufficient. The player will then either return to the field after 10 minutes or be shown a red card.
Viewers will also benefit from Smart Ball match data, which can measure spin rates, distances covered, and travel speed.
Julie Paterson, Six Nations director of rugby, stated that introducing the latest technology and rugby-focused innovations is crucial to driving the collective growth of the game. The aim is to keep developing and pushing new initiatives to enhance rugby's appeal and quality.
New Pool format
World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont has addressed the criticism surrounding the early draw for the 2023 Rugby World Cup and explained that they are working to find solutions for future tournaments.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup draw was made on December 14, 2020, nearly three years before the start of the tournament in France. This early draw resulted in a lopsided distribution of teams in the pools, with the top five nations in the rankings placed in either Pool A or B. Consequently, only some of the top four teams will make it to the semi-finals.
Beaumont acknowledged the criticism from the fans buying tickets and stated that the early draw was conducted to secure host cities and determine team locations, which is crucial for planning and logistics. However, he assured World Rugby would aim to hold the draw as late as possible to achieve more balanced and fair pools.
The 2023 Rugby World Cup in France is set to begin in just over a month, and Beaumont expressed his optimism for the tournament. Despite controversies and scandals surrounding the organizing committee, Beaumont believes everything is in place for a successful World Cup, both on and off the field. Quite a few festivities are planned for those with tickets to any of the games in France.
While there have been issues in France, including riots after a police shooting, Beaumont emphasized that the preparations have gone well, and all the venues are fantastic. He expects an exciting World Cup with unpredictable outcomes on the field, as many teams have the potential to win. The atmosphere in French stadiums is renowned for its excitement, making the tournament even more special.
In conclusion, Beaumont reassured fans and stakeholders that they can look forward to an exciting and memorable Rugby World Cup 2023.
Fiji lose Peceli Yato
Fiji's hopes for the 2023 Rugby World Cup have taken a hit as Clermont star back-rower Peceli Yato has ruled himself out of contention for the tournament. Head coach Simon Raiwalui confirmed that Yato decided to leave the squad on his own accord, and the coaching staff respected his decision.
Yato was initially named in the extended squad for the Rugby World Cup preparations and trained with the team ahead of the Test match against Tonga. However, he has opted not to participate in the tournament, which would have been his third appearance at the Rugby World Cup.
During the three-week training camp, Yato showed leadership qualities and led “from the front,” according to Raiwalui. His absence will be felt in the squad as he has been an instrumental player for Fiji, earning over 30 Test caps for his country.
Recently, Yato signed a two-year contract extension with Clermont, with the option of a third year. Despite reported interest from Montpellier, he chose to remain with the club, where he has played over 150 games and won the Top 14 and Challenge Cup.
Fiji will now need to find a replacement for Yato, but no official announcement has been made regarding his replacement. Yato becomes the second Fijian player to rule himself out of contention for the Rugby World Cup, which may challenge the team's preparations.
Michael Leitch – unfortunate Red card for Japan
Japan rugby veteran Michael Leitch received a red card during a Test match against Samoa for a shoulder-to-head tackle on back-rower Sootala Fa'aso'o. The incident occurred 10 minutes before halftime, and referee Mathieu Raynal promptly dismissed Leitch after consulting with the TMO.
The match, which took place on July 22, ended in a narrow victory for Samoa, who secured a 24-22 win in the Pacific Nations Cup. The game was a dress rehearsal for their upcoming World Cup meeting on September 28.
The tackle from Leitch was deemed dangerous, as he made no attempt to wrap his arms and directly collided with Fa'aso'o's head using his left shoulder. The punditry team at halftime referred to the incident as “unlucky” and predicted that it would be hotly debated.
Lobby group Progressive Rugby expressed confusion over the pundits' reaction, stating on Twitter that while no one likes to see red cards, the decision seemed clear-cut to many fans at the venue with tickets watching. The red card was seen as deserved by both spectators and experts alike.
The loss to Samoa marked Japan's first defeat against them in Japan since 2012 and ended a streak of three successive victories against the Samoans. The suspension of Leitch may pose challenges for Japan's preparations for the World Cup, which is scheduled to kick off on September 8.
Japan flanker Kazuki Himeno expressed disappointment that the team couldn't recover mentally from Leitch's dismissal, which affected morale. Despite the setback, Japan continues preparing for upcoming home matches against Tonga and Fiji before facing Chile in their opening World Cup match on September 10.
Tickets for the Rugby World Cup are still available from trusted reseller platforms.
