Principal accountabilities of the assistant referee during the match, in order of priority are:
• Touch/touch-in-goal
• Location of the lineout and who throws in
• Signals for successful kicks at goal
• Foul play, as authorized by the Match Organizer
REPLACEMENTS AND SUBSTITUTIONS
Assistant referees should familiarize themselves with Laws 3 in The Laws of the Game. This, in relevant part, deals with the number of players a team may substitute or replace.
RADIO COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
Any input on the radios is for advice only. It does not necessarily require definitive action/penalty from the referee.
The primary use of radios should be preventive, not punitive.
If a referee has made a decision on an incident (apart from foul play - flag out and speak), an input should not be made.
Incidents where the radios should be used:
• Any offense on opposite side of the referee, e.g.,
o Knock-on at the base of a scrum or ruck
o Penalizable hands in tackle/ruck
o Back rows unbound
o Back rows shifting bind or moving around scrum
o Flankers holding opposing player onto scrum
o Props with hand on ground
o Obvious offside/forward pass
o Players in front of kicker for “box” or high kick
o Players on ground after tackle/ruck interfering with ball clearance
Can also help with:
• In-goal decisions – must keep focused on players on ground after TRY/NO TRY while still giving your call to referee
• Substitution of players to save unnecessary time off, e.g., during kick at goal after a try or any stoppage of play
• Injury in back play when it is necessary to stop the game
• Calling players who are not back 10m from penalty and free tap kicks or line-out
• Calling when ball is thrown away or prevents quick tap being taken
Don't use the radios as a substitute for flagging foul play. TJ can call that he or she has a report, but then must flag and make foul play report as usual whether he or she thinks the referee saw the incident or not.
Language
• Press button first and then talk - allow a one-second delay after pressing button before transmission occurs
• Has to be short, clear and at appropriate time
• offense, color, number
• Best to repeat message for clarity and confirmation
• Don't talk continually - it will be distracting to referee