The single most contentious issue in the build-up to the World Cup is the manner in which the matches will be refereed. The disparity in refereeing styles between Northern and Southern Hemisphere officials has long been a stumbling block, and one that has not been effectively addressed.

Southern Hemisphere officials favour a more laissez faire approach while their counterparts in Europe offer a more strict interpretation of the rules, and this has furrowed the brow of more than one international coach.

International teams have been asked to adopt to the differing methods, depending on circumstance. However the International Rugby Board is adamant that the World Cup is not going to be dogged by these problems.

To this end, referees and touch judges convened last Sunday to discuss the implementation of the laws. The IRB's approach is based on a charter drawn up two years ago; but for the World Cup - and hopefully from then on - there will be very definite guidelines.

Ireland's premier referee, David McHugh, who will officiate at two pool matches in the World Cup, offered a brief outline of the charter. "The main premise is to promote an even contest for possession. In the past everything was sacrificed at times for continuity and therefore the team without the ball suffered badly. That won't be the case in the World Cup.

"An Irish referee officiating at a club match in New Zealand should control the game in the exact same way that a New Zealand referee would when in charge of an Irish club match," says McHugh. Uniformity in interpretation is achievable, he maintains. Yet, if dealing with the complex laws of the game has proved difficult for referees it is hardly surprising that the media, spectators and even the players and coaches themselves find the different interpretations so perplexing.

McHugh helped The Irish Times to wade through some of the more contentious areas.