DALLAS – Major League Rugby announced today that it will introduce a Referee Review System (RRS) into competition during the 2026 season.
These changes represent the first of their kind for a major rugby league and reflect MLR’s vision to produce the best product for fans across the world.
The RRS will replace the television match official (TMO) with an In Stadium Replay Operator (ISRO), which will enhance real-time decision-making and ensure consistency across matches. The on-field referee team, headed by the center referee, will remain the primary authority for match control, and RRS will support and enable the on-field team to make better, more accurate decisions. This change will speed up the game, ensuring fans spend less time waiting on reviews and more time enjoying the match – whether they are watching it in-person or on a broadcast.
“This move from the old TMO model to an In Stadium Replay Operator is a massive step forward for MLR,” said Luke Rogan, MLR Referee. “The Referee Review System keeps decision-making where it belongs — with the on-field team — while giving us smarter, faster support in real time. It’s going to make our officiating more accurate, our game flow better, and the experience for fans even stronger. This is exactly the kind of innovation that pushes our league and our referees to a higher standard.”
