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News, Reviews & Opinion - Sean Fagan - RL1908.com

A special feature article in the May issue of Inside Sport magazine.

With the NRL adopting the use of a two-referees system for the 2009 rugby league season, Sean Fagan takes a look back at the now long-forgotten two-referees/umpires system of the 1880s, used on rugby and soccer fields in England, New Zealand and Australia.

This was a time of great changes in the football codes - it saw the introduction of the "whistle and flag", increased on-field officials and powers, and more emphasis on the referees catching the players breaking rules, rather than the players playing to the rules.

Ultimately, the two-referees system failed, and this article looks at what transpired, and how the decision was made to use just one on-field referee.

Check out "It Takes Two" in the May issue of Inside Sport magazine.