They've quoted on this on Sky on boots n all I think. Apparently the reason he does video ref in France is because the ref needs to be there a day before the match? Didn't know that myself, and they don't see the point in taking an SL ref out of the weeks fixtures to send them over to video every week, as all Catalans games are on TV in France.

Sorry! I meant to type "working trip" to France......obviously!

IIRC the flights in previous years to Perpignan Airport have landed mid afternoon/early evening, which would give the refs no chance to check in/acclimatise and get to the match in time for kick off to do their usual pre match routine and checks.

I'd imagine its more of a convenience to travel the day before for that reason, rather than spend an extra day in the sun.

Um...

You do realise every other ref was in action today don't you??

A bit difficult to get to the south of France when your game finishes at 4.40

As for the ripping decision it was ripped but over the line it's play on. He then grounded the ball and the decision given was correct. Try.

And was VR at Craven Park fr the Hull derby on Friday

Over tha past month he has been VR at Batley, Widnes, Keighley, Whitehaven, Hull and at Catalans, he also attends games Friday, Saturday and Sunday every week.

This week there was a complete and full program for the SL and all the Championship and Championship 1. Last week Ray Tennant was the VR at Catalans and he certainly wasn't there for the Castleford match 3 weeks ago when they had all the snow.

The reason for travelling the day before and coming back the day after is purely down to flights.

Those unhappy with "match officials" who travel overseas to do their job could join a club as a player, coach, kitman, physio etc and get a "freebie" overseas which of course is them doing their job!

The other alternative is to become a match official and work REALLY HARD (a concept it would appear few understand at convenient times)) and if you REALLY GO FOR IT then YOU can become the match official supremo and take all the "freebies", "jollies" etc that seem to irritate you so much at the moment.

A ball steal in the in-goal area is not a penalty try. It's a penalty to the attacking team 10m out.

Will you please stop putting the truth, logic and commonsense into posts like these.

You will confuse people and we can't be having that can we

Please desist

it doesnt bother me if Cummings is getting a few freebie trips to perpignan.

The fact he is at his job does

By who's or what standards?

Presumably part of his role is to ensure continuous improvement amongst those he manages.

Are match officials better (in your opinion) now than they were say 10 years ago despite no longer having the distraction of a day job?

Even as the game moves on they are just as good/bad as they have always been as have the players.

Because they are all human beings they mistakes just like everyone else. There are no perfect match officials, players, supporters, media pundits, journalists or whatever although by the postings on these sites and others you would think there were.

Look at the "perfect" sport of grid iron with all the match officials they have and even they get it wrong.

It's hard to accept that things go wrong and it's human nature to react but HOW you react is the key.

One day Mr Cummings will no longer be in the job and someone else will be and you know what, the same old stuff will come forth again and there will be new fans and new players and will they be perfect or will they make mistakes as well?

i dont expect perfect. I just expect better

I'll be sure to point you in the direction of this post next time you berate a RL player for a "mistake" that they made.