March 20, 2025 • 7 mins
The Chiefs have been fined after a member of their medical team interfered with play by kicking the ball away.
The staff member booted the ball after two Blues tries on Saturday night.
In addition to the fine, the Chiefs are getting sanctioned from Super Rugby officials.
Former All Blacks team doctor Dr John Mayhew talks to D'Arcy Waldegrave about the controversy.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from news Talk zed be Good Evening.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Does he well, just when they didn't want this kind
of publicity. I'm talking about Super Rugby full stop. There's
been trouble at meal with medical staff on the park
interfering with the ball, and Super Rugby Pacific have said naughty, naughty,
They've slapped their hand, they've listed them, are fine and
we move on. Being a meadow yourself, you would have
had experience with I'm not saying you did it, but
(00:35):
with the ability and what happens the process on the field,
an interfering with the ball. Does this strike you as strange?
This one?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
It doesn't surprise me. It's totally strange. There's always some
engagement ship done by sidle and stuff. You know. There's
a classic one is catching the ball when it's been
kicked out to prevent you know, a quick line out.
Are those sort of things. But of cause, now, with
a limited time to take a conversion or take a penalty,
hiding the ball is a bit more mischievous, isn't it.
So Obviously it must be reasonably serious for the Raby
(01:05):
unions to take action against that heavily.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Scored though, aren't he before that you know exactly what
you can and can't do in the park. It's not
like you're just rolling in like me for example, and
just having a crack.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
No.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
No.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
I think all doctors and physiatic on the field and
during rugby games, we've all been guilty of trying to
give the referee some advice during the game or the
touch dudge, a bit of advice about they not straight
or you know, penalty they've missed and things like that
because you're on the field quite quite a bit in
the medical staff, so you have an interaction with a
referee and I'm sure a lot of medical staff have
been told off so to speak by it by referees.
(01:39):
But this is the first time I've heard they've kicked
the ball away from a conversion. I mean, there was
that famous bloodgate case, you know, in my son's old
team Harlequins in the UK, when Dean Richards was the coach,
and you know, the doctor in physio inspired to use
an artist or blood capsule to imitate a bloodbind you know,
(01:59):
to get actually Nick Evans back on the field for
its gold again and they got into a lot of trouble.
The doctor and physio got professional bands from their respective
councils for a period of time, and Dean Richards as
the coach I think, was banned for a couple of years.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Back in the day. But a gainsmanship, as you describe it,
maybe bit a chat to the referee and the light
from the doctor kind of accepted then. But as the
game goes more and more professional, there must be some
pretty sharp or severe limitations boundaries around what you can
can't do and say exactly.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
I mean, you've got to be very careful. And of
course now the referees are miped up comment that you
make to them anyway, so you've got to be careful.
So what they did was the ball and things like
that was very silly, I think, but most probably well
intentioned but by the chiefs. But you can't do much
about it.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Well, it can't be well intentioned if it's on purpose,
because as you pointed out, everybody can see absolutely everything.
There's just no room for skullduggery, so it seems there
a foolish at best, I suppose with that, and doing
it twice is even more strange.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Yeah, exactly, I think they might have got away with
it once, you know, by hiding the ball or something
like that, but to kick it away twice as asking
for trouble. And I presume that's the reason why the
person concerned has been penalized for that, or the club
has been penalized for that.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Do you go far as to call it cheating? John Well?
Speaker 3 (03:27):
I suppose technically it is. I mean, I think it
didn't have any impact on the game, and I think
on the conversion that was missed for the last penalty,
I don't think that it occurred then. But it's you know,
not on the ethos of the game. You know, we
obviously stretched the blood but into its limits at times.
(03:48):
We've done things like that the head injury to the
limits at times, and you know, we give you, perhaps revereree,
some unsort of advice at times. But I think that's
just a bit bit worse than that.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
So is it fine good enough in your mind from
from what you know? Obviously you're not right in the
thick of it and haven't seen all the videos, but
is represents an okay sanction.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
The game's gone, isn't it. If it caused the loss
of the game or something like that, you can't do
much about it. You know, bad refereeing decisions happening in games.
You know, you look at the British Lions, they test,
you know, a bad decision there, but we can't do
anything about it. And you know, if they had interfered
with the result of the game, a fine would be appropriate.
But what difference does it really make?
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Well, it's two points though, right, Well, one of the
conventions was missed, one of them wasn't in. They're only
leading by one point, so if you wanted to wind
it back, you go, wow, kind of flooded a couple
of points off. About how far do you go back?
And where do you point the finger?
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Right? What we saw and it was the Warriors system
coaching a three game ban for having an altercation off
the field, which is perhaps didn't interfere with the result
of the game, and it gets a three months, three
match ban and I think ten thousand dollars fine or
something like that. And in this case, from what you're
telling me, that the club gets a small fine and
(05:03):
this is perhaps you know, worse impact on the game.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
What about when you on the park and we know
that there's always tumult around that getting in the way again,
start with the water boys, start with the meadows. Does
that cause a ruckus on the park? Is that something
that that that that medicates? Medics and the like always
have to be deal with and be very understanding of
what's going on there.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Oh, yes you are, because you're wide up to the
coaching staff and the you know. You see, especially in
Northern Hemans rugby, a lot of props going down before
scrums and lineouts and things like that to get a
risk and things like that, and I think referees can
get very annoyed about that, and they put pressure on
the medical staff to say, well, you know, is there
anything actually wrong with a sky is it's just a
(05:47):
eployee to get up at a time. And I think
that's one good thing that's happened. And seeper Rugula this year.
The referees don't get on with it, you know, and
unless you're severely injured, you know, the game goes on.
So I think that's quite good. And obviously in rugby
league the medical staff have left visible on the field,
they can't to fear as much. But in rugby union,
(06:08):
you know, you're on the field and you can pass
messages on and durious other things as well, and unfortunate
times you can actually get tackled by players and when
the play suddenly comes your way and you're standing looking
at an injured player, so you can get involved and
advert me in the game.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Huge responsibility for medics out there considering what they can
and can't do, because people don't know the extent of injuries.
They don't understand you guys do that's your job and
your ability to interfere, possibly at the behest of the
coaching staff because you're micd up. This is a delicate
place to be for anyone engaged in that.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Oh oh it is. I mean you've got to make
decisions on the field in front of sixty thousand people
about you know, whether a very important player can play
on or come off. You know, obviously you don't want
to get it wrong because you want to bring a
good player off and conversey. You don't want to make
sure to make sure a players health is not worse
than by trying to play on and especially in their
head entry space, which I think we've got a lot
of protection for now, but in other injuries you've got
(07:07):
to be careful, you know what's going on.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
So it is open to skullduggery, but from what you've
seen and been involved in experience and it's not really abused,
from the coach to the medics and so on and
so forth.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
No, No, I don't think so. I think there's some
gaming of the rules, but nothing terrible.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
For more from sports talk, listen live to news Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from news Talk zed be Good Evening.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Does he well, just when they didn't want this kind
of publicity. I'm talking about Super Rugby full stop. There's
been trouble at meal with medical staff on the park
interfering with the ball, and Super Rugby Pacific have said naughty, naughty,
They've slapped their hand, they've listed them, are fine and
we move on. Being a meadow yourself, you would have
had experience with I'm not saying you did it, but
(00:35):
with the ability and what happens the process on the field,
an interfering with the ball. Does this strike you as strange?
This one?
Speaker 3 (00:43):
It doesn't surprise me. It's totally strange. There's always some
engagement ship done by sidle and stuff. You know. There's
a classic one is catching the ball when it's been
kicked out to prevent you know, a quick line out.
Are those sort of things. But of cause, now, with
a limited time to take a conversion or take a penalty,
hiding the ball is a bit more mischievous, isn't it.
So Obviously it must be reasonably serious for the Raby
(01:05):
unions to take action against that heavily.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Scored though, aren't he before that you know exactly what
you can and can't do in the park. It's not
like you're just rolling in like me for example, and
just having a crack.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
No.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
No.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
I think all doctors and physiatic on the field and
during rugby games, we've all been guilty of trying to
give the referee some advice during the game or the
touch dudge, a bit of advice about they not straight
or you know, penalty they've missed and things like that
because you're on the field quite quite a bit in
the medical staff, so you have an interaction with a
referee and I'm sure a lot of medical staff have
been told off so to speak by it by referees.
(01:39):
But this is the first time I've heard they've kicked
the ball away from a conversion. I mean, there was
that famous bloodgate case, you know, in my son's old
team Harlequins in the UK, when Dean Richards was the coach,
and you know, the doctor in physio inspired to use
an artist or blood capsule to imitate a bloodbind you know,
(01:59):
to get actually Nick Evans back on the field for
its gold again and they got into a lot of trouble.
The doctor and physio got professional bands from their respective
councils for a period of time, and Dean Richards as
the coach I think, was banned for a couple of years.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Back in the day. But a gainsmanship, as you describe it,
maybe bit a chat to the referee and the light
from the doctor kind of accepted then. But as the
game goes more and more professional, there must be some
pretty sharp or severe limitations boundaries around what you can
can't do and say exactly.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
I mean, you've got to be very careful. And of
course now the referees are miped up comment that you
make to them anyway, so you've got to be careful.
So what they did was the ball and things like
that was very silly, I think, but most probably well
intentioned but by the chiefs. But you can't do much
about it.
Speaker 2 (02:50):
Well, it can't be well intentioned if it's on purpose,
because as you pointed out, everybody can see absolutely everything.
There's just no room for skullduggery, so it seems there
a foolish at best, I suppose with that, and doing
it twice is even more strange.
Speaker 3 (03:07):
Yeah, exactly, I think they might have got away with
it once, you know, by hiding the ball or something
like that, but to kick it away twice as asking
for trouble. And I presume that's the reason why the
person concerned has been penalized for that, or the club
has been penalized for that.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
Do you go far as to call it cheating? John Well?
Speaker 3 (03:27):
I suppose technically it is. I mean, I think it
didn't have any impact on the game, and I think
on the conversion that was missed for the last penalty,
I don't think that it occurred then. But it's you know,
not on the ethos of the game. You know, we
obviously stretched the blood but into its limits at times.
(03:48):
We've done things like that the head injury to the
limits at times, and you know, we give you, perhaps revereree,
some unsort of advice at times. But I think that's
just a bit bit worse than that.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
So is it fine good enough in your mind from
from what you know? Obviously you're not right in the
thick of it and haven't seen all the videos, but
is represents an okay sanction.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
The game's gone, isn't it. If it caused the loss
of the game or something like that, you can't do
much about it. You know, bad refereeing decisions happening in games.
You know, you look at the British Lions, they test,
you know, a bad decision there, but we can't do
anything about it. And you know, if they had interfered
with the result of the game, a fine would be appropriate.
But what difference does it really make?
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Well, it's two points though, right, Well, one of the
conventions was missed, one of them wasn't in. They're only
leading by one point, so if you wanted to wind
it back, you go, wow, kind of flooded a couple
of points off. About how far do you go back?
And where do you point the finger?
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Right? What we saw and it was the Warriors system
coaching a three game ban for having an altercation off
the field, which is perhaps didn't interfere with the result
of the game, and it gets a three months, three
match ban and I think ten thousand dollars fine or
something like that. And in this case, from what you're
telling me, that the club gets a small fine and
(05:03):
this is perhaps you know, worse impact on the game.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
What about when you on the park and we know
that there's always tumult around that getting in the way again,
start with the water boys, start with the meadows. Does
that cause a ruckus on the park? Is that something
that that that that medicates? Medics and the like always
have to be deal with and be very understanding of
what's going on there.
Speaker 3 (05:24):
Oh, yes you are, because you're wide up to the
coaching staff and the you know. You see, especially in
Northern Hemans rugby, a lot of props going down before
scrums and lineouts and things like that to get a
risk and things like that, and I think referees can
get very annoyed about that, and they put pressure on
the medical staff to say, well, you know, is there
anything actually wrong with a sky is it's just a
(05:47):
eployee to get up at a time. And I think
that's one good thing that's happened. And seeper Rugula this year.
The referees don't get on with it, you know, and
unless you're severely injured, you know, the game goes on.
So I think that's quite good. And obviously in rugby
league the medical staff have left visible on the field,
they can't to fear as much. But in rugby union,
(06:08):
you know, you're on the field and you can pass
messages on and durious other things as well, and unfortunate
times you can actually get tackled by players and when
the play suddenly comes your way and you're standing looking
at an injured player, so you can get involved and
advert me in the game.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Huge responsibility for medics out there considering what they can
and can't do, because people don't know the extent of injuries.
They don't understand you guys do that's your job and
your ability to interfere, possibly at the behest of the
coaching staff because you're micd up. This is a delicate
place to be for anyone engaged in that.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Oh oh it is. I mean you've got to make
decisions on the field in front of sixty thousand people
about you know, whether a very important player can play
on or come off. You know, obviously you don't want
to get it wrong because you want to bring a
good player off and conversey. You don't want to make
sure to make sure a players health is not worse
than by trying to play on and especially in their
head entry space, which I think we've got a lot
of protection for now, but in other injuries you've got
(07:07):
to be careful, you know what's going on.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
So it is open to skullduggery, but from what you've
seen and been involved in experience and it's not really abused,
from the coach to the medics and so on and
so forth.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
No, No, I don't think so. I think there's some
gaming of the rules, but nothing terrible.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
For more from sports talk, listen live to news Talks.
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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