Sports Letters: Referees must improve too

Sir: Clayton Thomas of Wales does international rugby no favours by the manner in which he conducted last weekend's Test match between Ireland and South Africa. All one wants from a ref is consistency - fairness in the application of the rules and a desire to reward constructive rugby so that this great game should be truly entertaining. When he reviews the video of his performance he will surely realise he failed on all counts.

Northern hemisphere rugby has learned many lessons in the last six months and has improved enormously to the point where they are able to compete and, probably, win again in the near future against the southern hemisphere sides. This kind of help, though, will do their cause no good in the long term.

Roger Close

Somerset West, South Africa