Planet Rugby has received a couple of missives which come to the defence of the beleaguered referees who they feel have been unjustly pilloried in the media. A vigorous defence of officials was given, pointing out amongst other things that a) they are poorly paid and b) it wasn't there fault, it was the players c) they as a breed were much misunderstood. This column has the utmost sympathy for referees but there is a disquieting trend in the game and that is the ever more intrusive whistle under the new laws. This weekend alone has seen a number of referees castigated and not just by members of the press.

One former international who had played in both England and Ireland pointed out that on his return he could not get over how bad the standard was here and how many mistakes were made during a match. Another ex-international commented, `if you think they're bad in Division One, you want to see Division Two.' It seems an appropriate time for the players, coaches and referees to sit down once again and discuss the new laws and their implementation. In recent weeks, this column has noted that the amount of talking back to referees is on the increase. The frustration of players and referees is becoming increasingly manifest and on recent evidence rugby union may soon become a 13-a-side sport with sin bins full of players.