‘Absolutely no need for change’ – Ex-referee urges top unions to ‘disoblige’ World Rugby boss
Referee James Doleman waits to hear from the TMO during the 2026 Six Nations and an inset of World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson.
Owen Doyle has called for unions to work against World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson, who is eager to make changes to the law book.
A former Test referee, Doyle also served as director of referees at the Irish Rugby Football Union and has been vocal in his criticism of Robinson’s desire to implement changes.
The laws of the game have been a hot topic this year with World Rugby hosting a Shape of the Game meeting where any changes need to be agreed upon with a short runway before the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Detractors to Robinson’s need for speed
Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus used his Rassie+ podcast to praise the change in the escort laws and how the scrum is officiated but also highlighted the difficulty officials are facing with the driving mauls.
Meanwhile, Japan boss Eddie Jones has identified how the laws currently favour the South Africans, suggesting a tweak to the aerial contest to even the playing field.
As for Robinson, he has rued how long it takes for new laws to be implemented, comments that Erasmus and Doyle have hit out at.
“I don’t think we are moving at a [good] pace,” he told the Rugby Unity podcast in December.
“We have a cultural problem in our game that involves us wanting to move all the world together, and that’s hard because you have different perspectives on how the game should be played, and it’s hemispheric… We don’t have a system that really enables that to move quickly.
“That’s something I’ve also challenged us to reconsider as to how we get the work done.”
Doyle calls for unions to disoblige World Rugby chair
Bok boss Erasmus dubbed these remarks as ‘ridiculous’ as he believes that the consequences of changes need to be appropriately considered.
Doyle has taken a similar line to the head coach and while he has called for the trials around the lineout to be voted down, he believes that Robinson needs to be stopped from making changes as there ‘isn’t really much wrong’ with the current lawbook.
He wrote as much in his Irish Times column following round two of the Six Nations, where he weighed in on the performance of Hollie Davidson before turning his attention to this weekend’s action.
“Ireland, in the unfamiliar territory of fifth place in the table, now travel to London. They will face a wounded England, who will be all the more dangerous for it. Italian referee Andrea Piardi is likely to be busy,” he wrote.
“It won’t be easy, but it will be completely compelling, adding to the thrilling rugby the Six Nations is delivering once again. It’s a wonderful tournament, proof that there isn’t really much wrong with the laws of the game.
“Those who wish to tinker with them must be resisted. Rugby union is not and must not become an all-singing, all-dancing game. Even if that means disobliging the new World Rugby chair, Brett Robinson, who seems to be in an almighty hurry to change things. World Rugby’s constituent unions should not follow suit – there is absolutely no need.”
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Lively debates to follow
The Shape of the Game meeting is bound to produce lively debates, particularly with shots being fired through the media already.
Former French referee Mathieu Raynal issued a damning retort to Super Rugby Pacific’s law modifications and trials ahead of the 2026 season, with the southern hemisphere tournament placing less importance on scrums and mauls.
Legendary Wallabies flanker and now Rugby Australia boss Phil Waugh clapped back at Raynal, stating that it was ‘interesting comments from a guy who probably [has] one of the most ridiculous refereeing decisions’, referencing the 2022 Bledisloe Cup.
READ MORE: Rugby Australia boss’ scathing clap back at ex-French ref’s attack on Super Rugby laws trials
