Play On : the rugby referee podcast

From Orange Emus 10s chaos to international Test rugby, there’s plenty to unpack this week! Candace shares her first-ever drop-kick goal attempt and a frightening concussion incident, while Rob catches us up on F1J1, the Raeburn Shield and more.

They review some general rugby news with World Rugby’s push for extended lower tackle height trials, the latest rankings, Women’s 15s award nominees and a busy week in the judiciary.

Plus, they break down the Wallaroos v Scotland Test, including a biting allegation, a fascinating team-of-three foul-play review and a couple of yellow cards. Canada do it again, beating England in Ottawa!

Ending the pod with Stat Central, the latest match official appointments across WXV and more! 🏉🎧

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Play on Pod is back with Candace, Rob and Pearcey !

Canada stun England, the Wallaroos turn it on, and the Bledisloe delivers plenty of talking points! 🇨🇦🏉

From French forwards playing out of position to red cards, TMO confusion, and some big calls under the microscope, we’re breaking down a massive weekend of rugby.

Plus, Law of the Week breaks down Law 6.10- Match Official

Stat Central brings the numbers, and our Golden Whistle goes to Aurélie Groizeleau for her 50th Test match! 👏

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Mudgee 7s leg fatigue, Navosa 7s, lineout chaos and the dark arts of escorting- it’s all on this week’s Play On Pod!

They review NZ v AUS, unpack the developing Hip Drop ID framework, crunch the numbers in Stat Central, and look ahead to WXV and the Bledisloe appointments.

Plus, a big Golden Whistle congratulations to Yueli Ang and Katie Gent on their selection for the Every Rose Match Official Programme, supporting the next generation of women match officials.

And apparently, 11 October was International Referees Day… who knew?! 🟨🟩

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Candace and Rob are back with another big week in rugby and match official news!

Candace is heading to Mudgee for the Junior 7s Champs, plus check in with Rob on Fiji 7s and Navosa 7s.

This week they dive into the Wallabies vs Springboks TMO tech issues, clock confusion, medics and water runners pushing the boundaries, plus more info re HIA situation that raised a few eyebrows.

Main segment is the break down of World Rugby’s latest dangerous tackle guidance, including the growing concern around knee-drop tackles and the new hip-drop tackle law coming into effect from November.

Plus:

• World Rugby law changes & Executive Board elections
• UK Premiership- Sarah Cox is back on the whistle!
• Bath v Exeter and another deliberate knock-down / penalty try
• Rob providing the appointments for: Bledisloe

Check out Rob’s article: 🏉

https://89rugby.substack.com/p/ask-the-ref-tmo-comms-fallout-special?r=1gyg8t&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web

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Candace and Rob are focusing on all things WXV! 🏉

They run through some regular general rugby news with a final reminder to get those RWC 2027 volunteer applications in before the window closes.

Then it’s all things WXV, with plenty for the match-official nerds to unpack: England vs New Zealand, a dramatic late missed penalty, yellow-card decisions, lineout height and tackle-release moments. They also break down Scotland vs Australia, the impact of the wind, breakdown management and Australia’s improving game management.

Plus: Wales vs USA, France vs Canada, lineout chaos, obstruction calls, offside and escalation processes.

Finishing with the usual Stat Central: 50/100, Appointments: WXV + Super Rugby AUS + Law of the Week: Touch, quick throw and lineout- Law 18.22

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Crazy weekend in Oz! 🇦🇺🏉

The Wallabies take on South Africa in a wild Nelson Mandela Plate clash packed with TMO drama, yellow cards, replacement confusion, captain chats and a second half that seemed to last forever!

Candace, Rob and Pearcey break down the big officiating moments, ruck speed, offside, the penalty try, high tackles, TMO interventions and plenty of referee talking points.

Plus, Stat Central and this week’s Law of the Week: Law 12.5(a) - Kick-off and restart kicks

Four yellow cards, TMO chaos and a LOT to unpack.🎙️🏉

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This week on Play On Pod 🏉🎙️ -a HUGE round of WXV Test rugby!

Candace and Rob break down the wild England v Canada 26–26 draw, TMO moments, cards, breakdown battles and plenty of referee talking points.

Plus, England v Canada, Scotland v NZ and Ireland v USA all get the Play On treatment.

Some important Ultimate 7s chat & 7s refereeing ahead of the Rugby Australia National Community Match Official Webinar, WXV updates, RWC2027 volunteering, the legacy of the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup and the latest appointments.

WXV Disciplinary update- from previous red cards given, Rob gives an update on the final news. 🟨🟥🏉

Candace and Rob are noticing: swinging around in the ruck, and cleaning out beyond the 1m. Rob runs through Appointments for WXV, Wallabies vs Spring Bocks and Super Rugby Aus.

Golden Whistle- Jack Larkin’s Super Rugby AUS debut.

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Play On Pod is back with another packed episode of rugby, refereeing, and match-official chat! 🏉

Candace and Rob break down the latest Tests, including England v Wallaroos, Scotland v Canada, and South Africa v the All Blacks, with plenty of discussion around TMO interventions, charge-downs, comms issues, water carriers, and some interesting referee moments.

They also dive into SVNS Ultimate 7s, referee card-pocket hacks, the latest rankings, Nations Cup fixtures, and our Stat Central numbers.

Plus, they look ahead to the Reds v Tahs clash in Roma, highlight some exciting upcoming match officials, and finish with Law of the Week: Closing the Gap at the Lineout. 📖

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The Pod is back with Candace, Rob and Pearcey talking about Grand Final chaos to international tests, this episode is packed! Candace survives three seasons in one day, Pearcey gets behind the mic, and Rob brings the U16 Grand Final drama.

Then it’s into the big rugby and match-official stories: the 4.5-size WXV ball, Ultimate 7s, LA28 qualification, referees getting back into season prep, RA webinars and the Dallas Harlequins referee-abuse fallout.

On the field, we unpack a fascinating weekend of Tests from Rugby Greatest Rivalry to Australia vs the Pumas ! They deliberate knock-ons, penalty tries, advantage, player input, mauls and plenty of stoppages- plus dive into the latest Super Rugby Australia and Ultimate 7s law variations.

And, of course, appointments and the Golden Whistle round out another big episode 🏉🎙️

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This week on Play On Rob and Peacey catch up on the latest rugby news before diving into some fascinating Tests: Springboks soar just enough as Wallabies win and Chile champs Uruguay by knockout.

They fly through a crazy weekend of rugby, breaking down the capers in Cape Town and the Wallabies' heroics in Jujuy. From Angus Gardner’s scrum management, lineout challenges, TMO moments, game management and plenty of post-try referee chat.

They also discuss the less than best rough and tumble in the Chile XV v Uruguay XV clash, making hard work for the match officials and even more for the judiciary.

Law of the Week (19.10-12) tackles the often-misunderstood “brake foot” while Captain’s Chat takes us inside a memorable Angus Gardner scrum intervention.

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Candace, Rob and Pearcey are back with another deep dive into the world of rugby officiating! 🏉

Play On Pod catch up after the Grand Final, look at the latest match-official news, and break down the big talking points from the Men’s South Africa v New Zealand and Women’s New Zealand v Australia.

They touch on penalties, breakdowns, cards, scrum decisions and some fascinating referee moments.

Plus: upcoming appointments, stats, trends, Law of the Week- has two related to law 12- kick off and restart kicks.

Golden Whistle celebration as Aurélie Groizeleau will reach 50 Tests come Canada vs England match !

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Play On Pod mixes it up a little this week in a short, sharp, punchy episode.

They Cheik out the new coach of the 2027 Waratahs men, and check in on some sensational stats and Sniper City, and celebrate some awards.

It's also the business end of the season as teams head into finals, playing for big money cheques, with everything on the line. Match officials - are you ready?

They go majorly prime in Stat Central, have an unprecedented Golden Whistle scenario and throw up a challenge in Law of the Week.

Rankings, trends and the golden girl Wallaroos also feature in a tight but action packed episode.

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Play On is back- with Candace and Rob have a packed episode of rugby news, match-official milestones and plenty of talking points. They discuss Wes Thomas’ devastating neck injury and the GoFundMe supporting him (https://gofund.me/e0b969c4b), the Sione Fukofuka Wallaroos coaching saga, the special haka in Durban, and the newly released Super Rugby AUS draw.

Captain sent off? Candace and Rob kick off with the big question: how do you process a YC or RC for the skipper?

On the whistle, Jimmy is closing in on an incredible 800th game, while we dive into the Tests rugby from Amatosero’s red-card suspension and the Head Contact Process to Argentina v South Africa’s slow-burn finish and Scotland v New Zealand’s clash of styles.

Plus: tech zones, trainers getting a little too involved, early shifts at the lineout, appointment news, and our Law of the Week looking at the latest NPC and Super Rugby AUS law trials.

And, of course, we finish with the Golden Whistle- Angus Gardner with 100th Shute Shield match 🏉🎙️

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Candace, Rob and Pearcey are celebrating 100 episodes of the Play On Podcast!

Join them as they look back at the most popular episodes and social moments before diving into the latest rugby news.

They discuss new research into head injuries in women's rugby, USA law variations, and a key decision from the Super Rugby Women's Championship Final.

Rob covers the latest referee appointments, share our Stat Central update, and finish with our Law of the Week, explaining the scrum mark under Law 19.2.

Thanks to all the listeners for being part of this exciting milestone- first 100 episodes!

University of Sydney Match Official Survey:

https://redcap.sydney.edu.au/surveys/?s=H9KLFPAETF7ERLP7

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This week on Play On Pod, Candace and Rob cover one of the biggest weeks in rugby officiating and the women's game.

Super Rugby Women's Championship Final between the Waratahs and Auckland, unpack the newly announced WXV competition structure, and discuss World Rugby's $90 million Impact Beyond programme, including major investment in Australia and the Pacific and its focus on growing women's and girls' rugby.

They highlight Rugby Australia's new post-match mental wellbeing initiative for match officials, the latest disciplinary news involving Tomás Albornoz, and share some inspiring referee stories from Eden Park and Fiji.

On the field, they review the extraordinary Canada vs Zimbabwe Test, featuring a lightning delay, communications failure and a TMO decision made via mobile phone, before breaking down the key talking points from Super Rugby Women's, including Fiji's controversial try against the Waratahs.

Plus, they answer your questions on scrum dominance, and finish with our Appointments segments.

University of Sydney Match Official Survey:

https://redcap.sydney.edu.au/surveys/?s=H9KLFPAETF7ERLP7

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The final weekend of the #NationsChampionship and #NationsCup had action every which way you look, both on and off the field...

While Candace takes a well earned break, Rob and Pearcey discuss the ups and downs of the last round of Test matches.

We celebrate some major match official appointments, the good, the bad and the ugly of captaincy, and lots of love for one of the very best match officials.

Some surprising trends led by one of our own, new sanctions for protecting match officials, Stat Central, a topical Law of the Week, and plenty more to boot.

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The rugby never stops! This week on Play On Pod Candace, Rob and Pearcey wrap up the World Rugby U20 Championship Final, discuss groundbreaking developments in remote TMO technology and new initiatives to tackle online abuse of players and match officials.

They also dive into the biggest refereeing moments from New Zealand v Italy, Wallabies v France, England v Fiji and South Africa v Scotland, breaking down key decisions, law applications and TMO interventions.

Plus, the latest appointments, Stat Central, and our Law of the Week answers a question many referees and fans are asking: Can you score a 50:22 from a free kick?

University of Sydney Match Official Survey:

https://redcap.sydney.edu.au/surveys/?s=H9KLFPAETF7ERLP7

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It's Test week on Play On Pod! Candace, Rob and Pearcey kick things off with our busiest yellow card weekend of the season, a trip to Woollahra.

This week the pod unpack the confirmed Pacific Nations Cup schedule, World Rugby's quiet rankings overhaul, important law updates and why the Waratahs are setting records they'd rather avoid. Super Rugby Women's- they review several big foul play decisions.

Law of the Week, featuring a fascinating incident from the World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia.

On the whistle, they review the major Test matches from England v South Africa, New Zealand v France, Australia v Ireland and USA v Portugal, breaking down the key referee decisions, bunker reviews, yellow cards, deliberate knock-ons, tackle consistency and some fascinating moments that had everyone talking.

Finishing up with Rob’s Appointment announcements !

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It's another packed episode of Play On!

Candace and Rob cover the latest rugby news from around the globe, including the Behind the Whistle panel ahead of the Wallabies vs Ireland Test, Australian Schools Championships, and the countdown to Rugby World Cup 2027.

They dive into Rugby Australia's new zero-tolerance Match Official Abuse Directive.

Unpack a huge week of law changes with four Global Law Trials moved into full law.

Rob chats about BaaBaas refereeing, shares the latest Appointments and Stat Central, in the lead up to massive 14hr full binge worthy rugby weekend.

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This week on Play On, we're tackling the biggest talking points in rugby- FINALS!

Candace, Rob and Pearcey unpack World Rugby's decision to lower the legal tackle height in community rugby, the latest Rugby World Cup 2027 ticket frenzy, and what those new law changes really mean for referees and players.

In the main segment we dive into a wild weekend of Super Rugby Pacific Finals and break down the Gallagher Premiership Final.

Later Candace and Rob celebrate some incredible referee appointments, and give a huge shout-out to the Queensland Country match officials heading to Townsville.

Plus, Candace puts Rob and Pearcey to the test with another Law of the Week challenge... can you guess where in the law book?

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