World Rugby has confirmed that the Foul Play Review Bunker, also known as the Bunker or FPR Bunker, will feature at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France
The reasoning for the system’s implementation is to aid the flow of the game with less time, allowing officials to make swift decisions with less time spent checking replays.
The concept has been trialled successfully in Super Rugby Pacific, the World Rugby U20 Championship, The Rugby Championship and the Summer Nations Series (Rugby World Cup warm-up) competitions.
What is the Foul Play Review Bunker, and how is it different from a TMO?
The Foul Player Review Bunker is an additional TMO (Television Match Official), that is dedicated to reviewing and deciding when an incident is referred to them – World Rugby refer to these officials as the Foul Play Review Officer (FPRO)
Unlike a regular TMO, the FPRO can only comment and deal with incidents that are referred to them. They cannot highlight another act of foul play or, for instance, a knock-on, offside etc.
The matchday referee can refer to incidents to the FPRO that involved head contact processes and any other serious foul play incidents that may occur during the game.
How does the Foul Play Review Bunker work?
While the addition of the FPR Bunker is aimed at assisting the flow of the game and the on-field officials, the referee remains the lead decision-maker during matches.
When an incident or act of potential foul play is identified – a high tackle, dangerous breakdown entry, tackle in the air etc – the TMO, referee and his assistants will have the opportunity to review the incident from two big screen replays, to where it is:
1. Foul play
2. It meets the minimum threshold of a yellow card.
If the officiating team is unable to determine whether the incident warrants a red card from those two replays, but they judge that it at least meets a yellow card threshold – the referee will issue the yellow card and cross their arms, signalling a formal Foul Play Review.
The referee issuing the yellow card and crossing his arms indicates that the incident is being referred to the Bunker for an official review from the FPRO.
The FPRO will then have up to eight minutes to review the incident using all footage produced and technology, including Hawk-Eye split screen and zoom technology, to determine the outcome.
Before the eight minutes is up, the FPRO will communicate their decision back to the matchday officials in the stadium. The referee will either uphold the yellow card, and the player will return to the match after serving the full ten-minute sin bin period or be awarded a red card and not return to the game.
The decision will also be communicated to the respective captain, on the broadcast of the match and in the stadium.
Example of the Foul Play Review process in action
Owen Farrell’s sending-off against Wales in the Rugby World Cup warm-up match provided a good example of the Foul Play Review process.
Referee Nika Amashukeli was notified by his TMO that there was a potential act of foul play.
Amashukeli, his TMO and his assistant referees were provided with quick replays of Farrell’s tackle on Wales flanker Taine Basham and judged that it met the yellow card threshold.
The Georgian referee then issued the yellow card to Farrell before crossing his arms to signal that the incident would be reviewed.
The England captain was then sent to the sin bin to await the decision from the FPRO on whether his yellow card would remain yellow or whether it would be upgraded to a red.
Some five minutes later, the FPRO reached their decision and notified the officials and Farrell.Amashukeli then showed the red card, signalling that Farrell would not be returning from the sin bin.
Do all foul play incidents get referred to the Bunker?
While it is likely that officials will tend to send most incidents for a review to ensure an accurate decision is made, the matchday referee is still capable of issuing a red card for a clear and obvious.
If they do so, then the incident will not be reviewed by the Bunker.
This means that more often than not, we will see a yellow card being issued and the incident being reviewed rather than a straight red card.
READ MORE: All the 2023 Rugby World Cup squads and team updates
Article courtesy of
Source link
