“It takes a special person to become a TMO.”

In that sentence, the United Rugby Championship’s Head of Match Officials Tappe Henning encapsulated the modern Television Match Official – a key member of the match official panel with an increasingly more significant role.

“TMOs are all former referees,” Henning told a media round table briefing.

“Marius Jonker is an example of a Test referee that has had more than 100 games as a TMO.”

The challenge is to find the right people with the right skill set to interpret what they see on the TV and share with the referee what he wants him to look at.

“We develop their skills through training,” Henning said, adding: “We keep them engaged and as close as possible to the game.”

The TMOs check incidents in the background while the game is continuing.

“Most people are only aware of the official referrals, in some games up to 27 incidents are being reviewed.

“This includes knock-ons, dangerous play, obstruction, players holding their opponents back, and checking to see what caused injuries.

“Every try that is scores is review by the TMO for accuracy. If the referee made a call the TMO sees something different, the TMO will intervene.”

There are many other issues – such as the positions of scrums, who knocked on when contesting the ball in the air.

(WATCH as the URC Head of Match Officials Tappe Henning explains what the ‘special qualities’ of a TMO is….)

“There is an expanded role for the TMO, where he comes in, in the last phase of play – scrum, line-out or restart.

“Whatever happens from that restart up to scoring a try can be called by the TMO – if the referee missed the incident.”

Henning confirmed that a ‘turnover’ qualifies as the start of a new phase.

“We appoint our match officials quite often as TMOs to ensure they stay connected,”

* Meanwhile, this weekend sees the adoption of four World Rugby global law trials in the URC for the first time.

They are:

* 60-second conversion limit to align with penalties and improve game pace, which will be managed by a shot clock (where possible).

* 30-second setup for line-outs will match time for scrums, reducing downtime * which will be managed on-field by the match officials.

* Play-on rule in uncontested line-outs when the throw is not straight.

* Scrumhalf protection during scrums, rucks and mauls.

@king365ed

@rugby365com