RESPECT for the referee is a precious quality in rugby and yet hardly a weekend passes without the officials being subjected to various degrees of verbal abuse. It goes beyond that, as John Lacey discovered during the Ospreys-Scarlets derby in October, forcing the Test ref to warn home skipper Alun-Wyn Jones: “You want to stop people asking for cards.’’
The problem is in danger of getting out of hand because nobody has been bold enough to nip it in the bud. Referees can cure it at the flourish of a yellow card.
Rob Kearney shouting at a touch judge during the Leinster-Exet...