RFU referees’ body says Healey did not influence TMO call but admit ‘regrettable’ blunder

Terheege could be heard over the broadcast asking that an incident involving Lewies and Farrell not be shown having been spotted by Healey

The Rugby Football Union has claimed that the Television Match Official who appeared to not review potential foul play on Saracens captain Owen Farrell because it had been highlighted on TV commentary was not influenced by the comments by TNT Sports pundit Austin Healey.
However, the Professional Game Match Officials Team (PGMOT), which reviewed the incident during Saracens’ victory over Harlequins at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, described it as “regrettable.”
TMO Stuart Terheege was caught on a hot mic during the broadcast discussing why he did not want to check a potential episode of foul play involving Farrell. The former England captain had seemingly been caught off the ball by Harlequins’ Stephan Lewies, who had already picked up a yellow card.
Terheege was heard over the hot mic saying “the problem I have got now is that it looks like Austin has instigated it, because we’re late, so I don’t want to talk about it, OK”?
After a replay of the incident was later shown by TNT Sports, Terheege, with his microphone turned on, could then be heard saying to the TV match director, “Oh come on, don’t show it because it…” before his microphone was either cut off or Terheege realised he was being overheard on the broadcast.
Wild story out of Saracens-Harlequins. TMO appeared to not review potential foul play because it had been highlighted on commentary. https://t.co/nVMHJIdmUo”The problem… is that it looks like Austin has instigated it, because we’re late, so I don’t want to talk about it, OK?” pic.twitter.com/wG93mPMUvP
In a statement, the RFU confirmed that Terheege asked the TNT sports director for clips around the incident to review in the background before deciding whether to call an official review into the foul play incident, or not, and also simultaneously checking on the ground of the Saracens try.
But the PGMOT review claimed that Terheege had not requested to review the incident again because he was “confident in his original decision”.
“In relation to the act of foul play committed by Stephan Lewies against Owen Farrell, the TMO saw the initial contact off the ball,” said the statement. “He decided on the evidence that it was no more than a penalty advantage. As Saracens went onto score, that advantage was deemed to have been taken, so no further action was required.
“In response to Stuart’s initial request for images the director asked the TMO if he wanted to look again at the incident. The TMO declined, as he was confident in his original decision. At the same time, the TNT Sports commentary team also saw the replays and posed the question whether Lewies’ actions warranted a review.
“TNT Sports’ audio directors can cut to the TMO if there is a moment when viewers would benefit from their insight in their decision-making. At this juncture, some of the conversation between the TMO and match director with regards to the replays requested and whether an official review was needed were broadcast ‘live’.
“The conversation between TMO and director that was broadcast ‘live’ was regrettable, they were not intended to be heard outside of the broadcast truck nor were they the reason for the foul play incident not being formally reviewed.
“Terheege is disappointed that he allowed himself to be distracted with interactions with the broadcast team and did not communicate his decision to the on-field match officials.”
The RFU insisted that TMOs do not actively listen or react to the broadcast commentary team and “make their decisions independently, based on their own judgement, experience, and in line with agreed World Rugby protocols”.
“However, due to their location at the matches, they sometimes overhear commentary,” the statement added. “The nature of the audio configuration in some broadcast trucks and in some stadiums means the working environment varies from match to match.
“The incident was an unusual and unfortunate occurrence. The PGMOT, Premiership Rugby and TNT Sports are working closely together to make sure this does not happen again. The three organisations enjoy a close and positive working relationship based on a mutually beneficial system that has worked for many years. All parties will continue to work hard to further refine and perfect systems to ensure player safety and high-quality rugby.”
Telegraph Sport has learnt that Ridley was oblivious to the exchange during the match, and that the conversation between Terheege and the director was broadcast solely to the television audience. The on-field referee discovered the fall-out surrounding the exchange only in the game’s aftermath and heard nothing on the pitch.