SWRRS POLICY ON VERBAL ABUSE

Verbal abuse directed at rugby participants should not be tolerated and the following process should be followed:

• The referee will walk to the sideline on the halfway line. Call the head coach to the halfway line, and instruct them to ask the identified person to refrain from their behavior. If the identified person is the head coach, the referee addresses them directly or may ask the team captain to assist.

• On the second occasion the referee will request the identified person to be removed from the grounds.

• A zero tolerance approach should be applied and if the person refuses to leave the referee should request that team’s captain to assist.

• Failing compliance the referee abandons the match.

• The referee restarts the game according to the latest stoppage and does not award a penalty due to the sideline behavior.

• Red and Yellow Cards must not be shown to non-players (coaches, water carriers, medical staff , etc.).

• The referee should report the incident to their local governing body.