Nigel Owens has criticised the current state of rugby refereeing, saying he would like to see referees make the final decision instead of consulting the Television Match Official, writes Gavin Spillane.

The TMO’s authority has swelled significantly in the modern game as they are often referred to backtrack through multiple phases in case of infringements in the lead-up to a try or incident of foul play.

For this, the game’s speed has been compromised and Owens, who refereed the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final, says the TMO is used “too often and for too many things.”

“Personally, I think we should go back to where it was five or six years ago where it was only on the goal line, ’Try: yes or no?’” he told Reuters.

He reasoned: “Then, as a team of officials, we would have to work harder and be better at making the decisions that don’t involve the goal line. Things like obstruction, did he come in from the side, forward pass?”

“There are so many things that can go either way and I think you’d probably find that if you make the decision and it’s not replayed then nobody argues with it.”

“I’m not sure if the TMO is eroding the referee’s authority but it is possibly eroding people’s perception of it.”