Australia asked to invite referees

Press, 17 April 1982, Page 64

Australia asked to invite referees

PA Wellington Australia is to be asked, if it. will invite New Zealand referees for the Scottish tests this year, the N2.R.F.U. council decided yesterday. The move came after concern expressed at Thursday’s N2.R.F.U. annual meeting and by Mr Ron Don, a national councillor, that while Australian referees were used for the Scottish tests in New Zealand last winter, New Zealand referees were missing out this year. “We should ask whether they would consider inviting one of our referees. I am surprised the Australian union has not reciprocated,” Mr Don said. The council’s laws committee will also study a proposal, backed by the annual meeting, that persistent offenders who are sent to the sin bin during matches should be ordered to appear at union judicial committee meetings. The annual meeting passed a recommendation from the Nelson Raj’s union which sought the power for unions to can persistent sin bin offenders before them. Several , councillors said yesterday that unions already had the power to summon anyone before their jud-. icial panels but the chairman, Mr Ces Blazey, said that when the sin bin was introduced two years ago it gave unions no specific powers to cal) up the offenders. The council agreed to ask for a report from its laws committee on the problem. The Otago union is to be asked, to find a club to organise and host the Middlesex Cup national clubs . sevens tournament.