What is the TMO in Six Nations rugby and is it the same as VAR?

THE Six Nations has arrived  – and every decision could be a huge one.

With pressure on officials to make the right call now a massive talking point across a number of sports, the TMO (Television Match Official) in rugby is lauded as the example f0r football to follow.

What is the TMO?

Brought in way back in 2001 in its most basic form, the TMO has been designed to help aid rugby referees in their decision making.

But it’s not been until the last five years or so that we’ve had the system implemented so widely through domestic and international rugby.

After original teething problems, the TMO has been moulded and changed over the years into its current format.

It can be used to provide on-field referees with help in the following circumstances:

• Determining the grounding of the ball in-goal for a try or touchdown and/or whether players were in touch or touch in goal before grounding
• Determining whether a kick at goal has been successful
• Confirm if an infringement has occurred in the build-up to a try or prevention of a try (infringement must be within two phases of the try or touchdown)
• Considering act