Warren Gatland has revealed he has crossed to “the dark side” of rugby after taking on a surprise consultancy role with World Rugby’s match officials.
The former Wales head coach says working closely with referees during the British & Irish Lions tour has given him a completely new appreciation of the pressures officials face, particularly amid intense scrutiny over red cards, high tackles and consistency.
He wrote in
his column for The Telegraph: “Going across to the dark side (only joking!) has given me a whole new perspective and appreciation for the work that the referees are doing.”
A new respect for referees
Gatland admits referees have been under fire this autumn, especially over decisions in the dangerous high-contact area, but insists they are working tirelessly to improve.
“They know they are not perfect. But what I see is a group of people working really hard to rectify the issues.”
While acknowledging mistakes – particularly around yellow and red cards – Gatland says frustration often comes from rugby’s grey areas.
“I know how frustrating it can be when calls go against your team, particularly those that fall within the grey area.”
He points to issues such as side entry at the ruck, not releasing, or not rolling away quickly enough – areas where subjectivity is unavoidable.
What referees are really focusing on
Gatland revealed that elite referees meet only a few times a year – typically before the Autumn Nations Series and Six Nations – giving them limited time compared to teams preparing for a full season.
Despite this, officials are working hard to align their approach ahead of Rugby World Cup 2027, with four key focus areas:
Space
“Trying to create more space when it comes to teams being able to attack.”
Speed of ball
“Focusing on the tackler, and ensuring that the jackaler is completely legal at the breakdown.”
Safety
“This is important. There have been some mistakes made around this when it comes to consistency.”
Scrum and maul
“Ensuring both scrum and maul allow a contest for the ball and are also legal.”
However, Gatland believes these priorities have not been communicated clearly enough.
“I do not think these focus areas… have been communicated well enough to the fans, broadcasters and teams.”
Referees should admit mistakes
Speaking from a coach’s perspective, Gatland feels officials would gain more respect by openly acknowledging errors.
“They will get more respect when they are reviewing a performance and admit that a decision was wrong.”
He also criticised some TV commentary for inflaming situations unnecessarily.
“The most negative effect on the game can come from a TV commentator who says things like ‘that was a terrible decision’, but sometimes they are wrong or do not know the law.”
EDITORS PICKS:
Quiz: Can you all of the Guinness Six Nations winning captains?
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