URC head of match officials Tappe Henning says referees and captains are communicating better than ever in the competition.
Henning credited a pre-season meeting with coaches for helping to reset the tone around on-field interactions.
“World Rugby asked us to build good relationships with players and coaches and to provide opportunities for the captain, when relevant, to ask the referee a question,” he told Rugby365. “We agreed with coaches that if captains do it amicably, with respect, we will focus on and understand their needs.”
The result has been a sharp drop in public dissent or “chirping” at referees in the opening rounds of the 2025-26 URC season.
Henning said the new approach ensures dialogue happens without disrupting play.
“After a try has been scored, the captain won’t walk in front of the kicker and challenge the referee,” he said. “If he gets a message from the sideline, he’ll go to the assistant referee, who will relay it to the referee. The TMO also hears that message, so everything continues in a much better way than before.”
He added that both captains and coaches have “bought into” the new process.
“It’s good for the game that there are cordial relationships between captains and match officials,” Henning said. “We understand that captains are under pressure and may disagree with a decision, but we’re dealing with it professionally and with respect from both ends.”
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Henning believes this open, respectful communication benefits everyone.
“They may still disagree with a call, but we’ll give a good explanation and can have further discussions afterwards,” he said. “That relationship is becoming important in managing the game between the two captains and the referee.”
Photo: Shaun Roy/Sportsfile via Getty Images
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