David Campese: Wallabies legend slams international rugby as ‘a joke’

David Skippers
David Campese Wallabies 1993 - Alamy.jpg

Legendary Wallabies wing David Campese has slammed the current state of rugby union at international level, referring to it as “a joke” with referees receiving the bulk of his criticism.

The 59-year-old’s comments come with this year’s Rugby Championship evenly poised as the tournament’s four competing nations – Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa – battle for consistency.

Rules and officiating ruining the game

Campese, who was part of Australia‘s 1991 Rugby World Cup-winning squad, believes performance is being compromised by rules and officiating.

“It’s a farce,” he told Daily Mail Australia. “The referees think they are the most important person on the field. They think it’s about them, but it’s not. It’s about the game. It’s about the players and the supporters.

“People don’t pay their money to watch a referee blow his whistle. They go to watch a game of football. They want to see tries, not penalty goals. It’s sad. The way things are now, it’s a joke.”

Australia’s record try-scorer with 64 crossings, Campese is widely regarded as one of rugby’s best attacking players. He feels the game is becoming an increasingly difficult exhibition for its supporters.

“I know I talk about the good old days, but it’s hard not to,” he added. “I’m an old fart, I admit that, but I’ve always been outspoken, and I can’t say things are good if they are not.

“The TMO [Television Match Official] and referees are ruining the game.”

With the Bledisloe Cup series between the Wallabies and All Blacks set to start in Melbourne on September 15, a 20-year match comparison supports Campese’s concerns.

This year’s Rugby Championship opener between Australia and Argentina in Mendoza saw 30 penalties being issued. However, just 11 penalties were handed out during the third Test of the 2002 Bledisloe Cup series played in Sydney.

Added to that is time-wasting at scrums, which is another scourge of modern rugby, and the ball-in-play equation gets alarmingly low.

Always outspoken

Campese has a reputation for always saying what is on his mind, and that approach hasn’t always been well received in higher places. But he is adamant that he is merely expressing his passion for rugby.

“I would love to be asked to help fix the game, but no-one wants to listen,” he said.

“It’s hard to take. I’m respected wherever I go around the world but not in my home country.

“My poor wife. She says to me, ‘Why do you do it to yourself? Why don’t you walk away?’ I tell her I can’t. I love rugby. It’s all I know.”

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