The Champions Cup final in Bilbao later this month will feature an independent broadcast director following complaints about the lack of crucial replays available to match officials during Bath's 38-26 semi-final loss to Bordeaux-Bègles on Sunday.
Bath's frustration over missed high tackles
Johann van Graan, Bath's head of rugby, suggested that three high tackles on his No 8, Alfie Barbeary, were overlooked because the referee and television match official (TMO) were not provided with all necessary camera angles by the French host broadcaster. Members of the Premier Sports commentary team also highlighted the absence of replay footage.
Different protocols are in place in the Champions Cup compared with the United Rugby Championship and the Six Nations, where an independent operator sits with the TMO to ensure optimal pictures are readily available. On Sunday, under EPCR regulations relating to host country arrangements, a French director was in charge.
Independent director for the final
It is understood that the final in northern Spain will be broadcast with an independent – probably English – director at the helm. Sources have also stressed that Premier Sports on-air commentary teams only work with feeds and vision supplied by the host broadcaster and cannot select their own replays.
The incident that particularly upset Van Graan was a 42nd-minute collision between Barbeary and the player of the match, Maxime Lucu, near Bordeaux's posts. The home side led 24-12 at the time, but the South African was frustrated the clash of heads was not further scrutinised. "We as a game need to make sure we become consistent and, certainly from the footage available to the match officials, it didn't seem that way," he said.
The final between Bordeaux and Leinster on 23 May will be broadcast live and free-to-air on ITV.
