{
  "id": 1699101,
  "title": "TACTICAL SILENCE: Boks, All Blacks decline referee meetings due to new protocols",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/tactical-silence-boks-all-blacks-decline-referee-meetings-due-to-new",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-18T11:48:49.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Maverick",
    "slug": "daily-maverick",
    "url": "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-08-18-boks-all-blacks-decline-referee-meetings-due-to-new-protocols/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Both the All Blacks and the Springboks have declined meeting with referee Matt Carley before the first Test at Ellis Park due to new World Rugby protocols. These protocols strictly limit feedback to officials and prevent coaching staff from meeting with referees prior to a Test match without the opposing team's approval. The new rules, including the upload of a maximum of six clips and notes to World Rugby's Athlete Management System, have altered the way teams communicate with referees. This change may limit the coaches' ability to address specific areas of concern and discuss tactics with the referee. All Blacks coach Dave Rennie and Springboks counterpart Rassie Erasmus confirmed that a pre-Test meeting is not possible under these new protocols. Despite the frustration from coaches, they trust the referees to handle the situation professionally and have opted to express their concerns through media conferences instead.",
  "summary": "All Blacks coach Dave Rennie and Bok counterpart Rassie Erasmus confirmed that there will be no meeting with referee Matt Carley before the first Test at Ellis Park because of the new protocols.",
  "key_points": [
    "All Blacks and Springboks decline pre-Test referee meetings.",
    "New World Rugby protocols limit feedback to officials.",
    "Coaches express concerns through media conferences instead."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}