Super Rugby referees are being "forced into a corner" and are having to "tick boxes" with decisions like Tom Banks' red card says ACT Brumbies coach Dan McKellar.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Banks escaped with a warning for his tackle on Western Force winger Toni Pulu last week, despite being sent off during the game.
His red card was torn up by the SANZAAR judiciary and reignited debate about inconsistencies between referees and judiciary panels.
McKellar wants alternative options explored in the sport moving forward and suggested an orange card option for non-deliberate incidents such as Bank' post-match.
Before clarifying on Wednesday his frustration at the call did not lie with the referees.
"I just want to make it clear that I wasn't having a crack at the referees around the decision. I'm talking about rugby union as a game. We just need to have a look at the path we're going down," he said.
"We all understand that concussion's a serious issue. We want to reduce the amount of concussion incidents we have within rugby union.
"I actually feel for the referees, they've got boxes they need to tick and make decisions going against those areas and protocols, and to a certain extent, are forced into a corner.
"All I was saying is that accidents within high-intensity, high-speed, high-collision sports are always going to happen. We're never ever going to eliminate them, and as it's been proven with Banks and TP."
MORE CANBERRA SPORT:
Banks was staring down match suspensions for hit tackle before it was thrown out. Although his cheekbone fracture will keep him off the park for a few weeks, McKellar said SANZAAR's decision was a relief.
The 45-year-old said he was not sure how the judiciary decision would go before it was made.
"I was pleased," he said.
"Tommy is going to be out for a period of time anyway, his injury was always going to be longer than the suspension, but it's [good] for his own record that he doesn't have a red card against his name.
"And also I think it's just a little win for the game."
SUPER RUGBY ROUND SEVEN
Saturday: Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbies in Brisbane, 7.45pm.
Isobel Cootes
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
Sports reporter at The Canberra Times. A Novocastrian with a passion for football (or soccer as they call it in the capital) via The Examiner and The Port Lincoln Times.
