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Despite this example, arguably the potential for referees to cause such chaos is dwarfed by another set of officials: linesmen. In Welsh amateur rugby - unless you’re playing in a cup final or, possibly, a promotion, title or relegation decider - you’ll inevitably have two linesmen who are affiliated to the two clubs who are contesting the match. Now ‘affiliated’ might sound quite grand, but put more accurately, each club will choose someone from the side-lines at random to hold the flag on the touchline.
In the spirit of rugby union, this shouldn’t be an issue, and it usually isn’t. But every now and again you’ll get a linesmen who seemingly wants to see the world burn, so will raise their flag to say that a foot was in touch when it wasn’t or to say that a ball went dead when it didn’t, often helping their club to gain some form of advantage that wasn’t theirs to gain. The results of these contentious decisions can be incendiary to say the least, and subsequently, rightly or wrongly, chaos ensues on occasions. Yet, when there’s hell to pay in rugby heaven off the back of their decisions, let those partisan linesmen sweat, I say. If they are willing to sow the wind with their scandalous calls, then let them reap the storms too!
Just hope and pray that a strong referee is there, on hand, to pick up the pieces afterwards.
64 ALL SHAPES & ZEBRAS FROM TREORCHY