One of the most important duties of a referee is keeping time during a football match, yet Rugby World Cup officials do not wear watches due to a row with watch sponsor Tudor.
Eagle-eyed rugby supporters have noticed that referees have their whistles wrapped around one wrist during the tournament in France, but their watches are conspicuously missing from the other.
Tudor is a long-term sponsor of the Rugby World Cup and has posted on Facebook ahead of the 2023 tournament to tell fans ‘we are honored to be the official timekeeper, capturing every heart-stopping moment and adrenaline-fuelled play’.
The Tudor website continues: ‘Rugby is an uncompromising sport with bold values, a true reflection of the spirit that has driven this watch brand since its inception.’
However, the referees will not be wearing Tudor watches this tournament – and are not allowed to wear other timepieces due to the sponsorship arrangement.
Rugby fans say Tudor should be shown a yellow card for failing to provide referees with their watches, an essential part of a referee’s kit, at this World Cup
Referee Mathieu Raynal carries his trusty whistle and notebook, but eagle-eyed fans have noticed he and his colleagues are not wearing timepieces during the Cup
A sideline official watches Fijian star Semi Radradra make a break against Wales and checks to make sure he doesn’t get into touch. Just don’t ask him to check the time
Instead, they have to rely on the television match official, the stadium clocks and the siren to judge the match – including stoppage time.
New Zealand website Stuff.co.nz has reported that the reason behind the lack of watches is a standoff between the Swiss company and officials.
The issue dates back to the 2019 Rugby World Cup, when officials were issued Tudor watches.
It is claimed that one of those referees, who has now retired, angered the company by selling their timepiece after the tournament.
The piece in question was a Tudor Black Bay Chronograph Limited Edition that came with its own certificate of authenticity and was valued at over $25,000.
However, rugby officials are baffled by the impasse as they have never been told directly in the past that they cannot sell the watches.
The referees were told they could wear Garmin watches instead of Tudor as they are not direct competitors.
But they collectively decided not to bow to Tudor’s wishes and simply go without.
The $25,000 Tudor Black Bay Chronograph Limited Edition reportedly sold by a now-retired 2019 World Cup referee
Referees have been reduced to relying on the big screen to keep time during matches, as have the players and spectators
“The sponsor is angry, and it’s a bit petty… it’s just so poor,” a well-placed source told the publication.
“So for the first time ever in a World Cup, for the first time ever in Level 1 Test matches, the official timekeepers of a match are not wearing a watch.
‘These are the biggest matches in the world and the referees don’t keep time.’
The deadlock has been rejected by rugby fans.
“That’s ridiculous, Tudor can’t have their cake and eat it too. If you want them to wear your watch, give them one. Otherwise they can and should wear whatever watch they want,” one person said.
‘Tudor pays a lot of money for sponsorship and then throws it all in the bin by behaving in a petty way. Doesn’t seem like good business practice to me,” another added.
‘Tudor will probably regret this decision. If they refuse to provide a watch for the referees, they should not tell the referees that they cannot wear another brand,” said another.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Tudor for comment.