Video Replay
VIDEO REPLAY
Video replay is an integral part of the game at many levels. It supports the delivery of several different areas:
- Officiating – TMO and FPRO services as well as Referee Review
- Medical – HIA Assessment and other medical reviews
- Disciplinary – Citing
- Statistics – Data collection review and QC
The ability to pause rewind and further manipulate match footage in a live environment allows each of the above areas to do their jobs effectively and efficiently.
WORLD RUGBY APPROVED PROVIDERS
World Rugby recognises three video replay service providers as being approved to deliver Video Replay services that align with World Rugby’s Video Replay delivery minimum standards. These companies have a proven track record of delivering high quality services at the top levels of the game and in a variety of different scenarios. They have each gone through the following steps in achieving the World Rugby Approved mark:
- Fulfil the minimum standards set out in the FIFA/World Rugby technical requirements for video replay.
- Demonstrated planning and delivery capacity to provide services at a top-level rugby match.
Hawk-Eye Innovations, part of the Sony Sports Group, has been at the forefront of sports officiating and broadcast enhancement technology for over two decades. Its vision processing, video replay, and creative graphic technologies make sport fairer, safer, more engaging, and better informed.
Delivering market leading video replay services in Rugby for over a decade using its SMART Video Replay Technology, Hawk-Eye's best-in-class innovations are constantly changing the face of sports officiating, player welfare, production, content management, and fan engagement globally in every sport.
QTV
QTV provides bespoke facilities, production, and match review solutions for a fast-changing broadcast and digital landscape, combining international experience with local knowledge to address four key aims for rights holders: extending reach, enhancing reputation, increasing commercial revenue, and rewarding fans. With a long-standing experience of working with multiple partners in a variety of countries and venues, QTV has a wealth of experience in providing competition-wide and season-wide facilities solutions and has been able to adapt and scale its services to different clients and multiple needs.
SMT
INDEPENDENT VIDEO REPLAY
For TMO services in particular, World Rugby insist that Independent Video Replay is used at all of their tournaments. This means that the selection of and control of images being shown to the referee is independent of any input from the television production function. For a system to be considered truly independent, the following requirements must be put in place:
- Video Replay provider has live access to all phases of all pitch-facing cameras and a copy of the transmission feed.
- Video Replay operators must have successfully completed the training modules for World Rugby video replay operators to the required level.
- TMO and TMO operator control all images being shown to the match referee whether on big screen or on a pitch-side tablet/screen. This means that the Video Replay Provider must be able to integrate with the broadcast function or in some instances with the in-venue sports presentation (big screen) provider.
- The Referee Communications system in use allows required communication between parties. A World Rugby Approved Referee Communications provider is preferred and strongly recommended.
FUTURE WORK – MINIMUM STANDARDS
World Rugby are in the process of developing a set of minimum standards that will govern what can and can’t be done for the delivery of Video Replay Services (in particular for TMO). This will include allowances for on-site and remote delivery as well as indicating the levels of redundancy that are required for given situations.
