Article: Understanding 'Clear & Obvious'

menace


Referees in Australia
Only problem with this article is that you're merely preaching to the converted as barely a diddly squat of spectators will read it....shame about that, they might have learnt something.
 

Robert Burns

, Referees in Canada, RugbyRefs.com Webmaster
Staff member
Ah, not true. It's running as an advert and already has 524 views via other mediums, & Brian Moore has tweeted about the irony of having to explain 'Clear & obvious". :D
 

crossref


Referees in England
Personally I am not a fan of the clear and obvious mantra.

What about an offence that is perfectly clear but not at all obvious ? You are going to blow, right..
 

Robert Burns

, Referees in Canada, RugbyRefs.com Webmaster
Staff member
It's not mean to be broken down into individual bits. It's a term to mean unless I am 100% sure I am not blowing this whistle.
 

Pegleg

Rugby Expert
If it is clear that it is a Penalty offence then it is obvious that it is a Penalty offence.

EG


You see a punch land: It is both clear and obvious that a punch has landed therefore a Penalty offence has occured.

Alternatively:

A player come out of a maul with a bloody nose it is both clear and obvious that something happened. It its neither clear nor obvious what that "something" was.
 

crossref


Referees in England
If you see a crafty punch to the kidneys, that no one else has noticed, it's clear.. But it wasn't obvious
 

Pegleg

Rugby Expert
If you see a crafty punch to the kidneys, that no one else has noticed, it's clear. But it wasn't obvious

It was obvious to you. On the scenario you propose nothing would be C & O as someone somewhere in the ground will not see it. C & O must be seen from the referee's perspective.
 

Taff


Referees in Wales
It's not mean to be broken down into individual bits. It's a term to mean unless I am 100% sure I am not blowing this whistle.
That's how I understand it.

Ie if it's a "grey area" between a clear black and white decision - it doesn't get blown.
 
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