Legendary rugby referee Tony Spreadbury has laid down the law, regarding how the upcoming 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup competitions will be officiated. After an Autumn Nations Series that was overshadowed by bunker reviews, citations and on-field controversy, the next installment of club rugby’s cross-continental competitions will have sleeker systems in place.
First off, Spreadbury revealed the decision process behind how the EPCR match officials are allocate to their respective matches throughout the two-tiered tournament. The 63-year-old revealed that the respective unions of England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Italy, South Africa and Georgia nominate referees for the tournaments, all the way back in August.
Spreadbury and his fellow selectors, then monitor and review their performances in their leagues, and then, the match official squads are selected in October. Speaking at the EPCR season launch event in Teddington, Spreadbury revealed an array of adaptations to the rule-book, that will come into action this weekend as the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cups get underway.
“Now, the big thing that we do, is we work with World Rugby with regard to the technical areas. So you’ll heard about the Big Five, safety, speed, space, line-out maul and scrum. That’s the principles that we adopt to make sure the players don’t go from different interpretations, from League, to Europe to World Rugby.
No Bunker review system in place for Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup
“We have 21 games for a weekend, and we will not be having a bunker. there is no bunker system in place. There is no foul play review officer in place. It will be dealt with at the time by the referee and the TMO.”
Cards that will be used confirmed for 2025/26 European Season
“The 20 minute red card will be in place, but there’ll be no orange card, as you see in the Top 14. So you all know if it’s a 20 minute red card, because the referee will hold the red card and cross his arms, and that’s 20 minutes.”
How the EPCR match officials will be judged each weekend – consistency is key in Spreadbury’s book
“Now my big thing is consistency across those 21 games. What I want to make sure, is that with my calls, with match officials, we provide clear and obvious decision making. They are judged by their accuracy, non-decisions, high impact decisions, and we do that across the three leagues [PREM, URC, Top 14] as well. So that we get the best referees out of these competitions.”
EPCR Challenge Cup to provide younger referees with valuable experience
“In the EPCR Challenge Cup, we use younger referees. Like players, we have a pathway. We work with World Rugby with talent ID. So, these younger refs in the Challenge Cup, will be looked upon from a performance [perspective] is coaching.
“What’s their trends? What can they do better at, etc. So, we’re in a good position, but we’re all about accuracy of decision making, which is crucial. We want flow, we want momentum, but it is a competition, and I want referees to be consistent within that game primarily, before looking from game to game. 21 Games [a week] is a challenge. So that’s where we are.”
Referees are scored in each game – knock-out round assignments not ‘picked by mates’
“Data also now is driving, so that non decisions, high impact decisions, we monitor and we come up with a scoring for each referee. Yes, referees are scored at the end of each game, and they’re given knockout games on performance, not because they’re good mates.”
EDITORS PICKS:
- “It means more every year” – Hugo Keenan reveals Leinster’s burning desire to win the Champions Cup
- TNT Sports set to lose Nations Championship TV rights to free-to-air broadcaster
- Manu Tuilagi: Ex-England star reveals how life in France has ignited urge for Champions Cup glory
- Official match ball unveiled for 2027 Rugby World Cup – It’s a thing of beauty
- 2027 Rugby World Cup draw confirmed: England play Wales
