National Collegiate Rugby introduces instant replay review for the National Championships. While instant replay review has been used in international rugby for nearly two decades, its introduction at the college level is a new development.
Instant replay review has become commonplace in many college sports including football, basketball and soccer. This step brings college rugby in line with other mainstream college sports.
The Television Match Official (TMO), located within the technical zone tent, has access to all video streams from the match. At the referee's discretion, the TMO can assist in two key areas: confirming tries before they are awarded and reviewing incidents of potential foul play. This technology ensures that crucial decisions—especially in high-pressure situations—are made with the benefit of video evidence, reducing the margin for error.
The introduction of TMO to the National Championship underscores NCR’s commitment to improving officiating standards and ensuring fairness in the game. This is one of the first instances of TMO usage in the collegiate game, and it promises to elevate the integrity and fairness of the competition.
Dave Haines, NCR Director of Referees, stated “The TMO is an important step forward, aligning college rugby with international rugby standards. The replay review provides another tool for our experienced referee crews to confirm on-field calls while still maintaining the flow of the game.”
As the sport continues to evolve, the use of TMO in the National Championship represents an exciting innovation in how rugby is officiated at the college level, bringing an added layer of precision to an already dynamic and fast-paced game.
