Another ref here: I’d say that the northern hemisphere referees tend to give the benefit of the doubt to the defense and allow for a rougher contest for the ball. In the southern hemisphere, the attackers get the benefit of the doubt to some extent. Referees in the US tend to lean towards the southern style, if only…

League is like football without pads or forward passes, and with 6 downs instead of 4. It’s a much simpler game more simpler-minded folk.

Actually the Game Management Guidelines say that unplayable in the ruck is perfectly legitimate, and the high performance referee manager said at a presentation in February that it’s a good tool for dealing messy breakdowns. “You can’t stay on your feet at the breakdown so that the ball can come out quickly? Fine.…

Like many other things in refereeing rugby, it comes down to materiality. If the tackled player didn’t release the ball right away, was it material? As referees, we look for tackler rolling away and ball carrier releasing, in that order. If the tackler or a defender who came through the gate is on his/her feet and is…

The rugby fan in me is thrilled to see this on Deadspin. My decade as a rugby referee compels me to make the following corrections:

This is Martini. Is she a good dog?

Conversions in rugby are 2 points so it evens out.

Gaelic. That was the Irish call. Not sure why Deadspin didn’t go with the Welsh call from BBC Wales.

Sit in traffic.

Ilie propositioned my mother at a hotel after a World Team Tennis match in Honolulu in the mid-70s. She told him “I’m married.” He replied “So am I—why should we let that stop us.”

Martini is a good dog

Oh, Brooks does the 4E stuff really well. I’ve got a pair of Brooks Aria that are super-comfy

New Balance is absolutely fantastic for wide feet. I wear a 13 4E and can find just about everything I need from them. For nice shoes, I go with Red Wing. Top quality, and again, available in 4E.

Grade A shitpost

He just bought a condo, so don’t hold your breath. He’s mine* now!

Haha yes. He’s coming to the realization that he has to like, work out and stuff since he’s getting older and can’t just show up, run around, and not get injured. He’s a good guy though, and happy to go watch younger refs to help them out.

Where do you ref, chief? I’m in the Chicago area.

You can’t use a wedge in the football sense because you can’t block in rugby. So do a wedge with the ball carrier in the back and you’ll get penalized for obstruction immediately. Mauls are a bit different, but you need a defender bound on in order to have a maul.

World Rugby isn’t going to do shit about England’s whining. The no-rucking tactic Italy used is easily defeated by giving the ball to the forwards and sending right through where the ruck should have been. That forces the opposition to defend for an insane amount of phases and eventually tire out, as the only way they…

Broke into a toy store at a shopping mall to steal video game consoles. Got caught, had to have my Mom pick me up from jail, be grounded for an eternity, and pay restitution. Did the restitution and went to some first-time offender meetings with a counselor and got the record expunged.