INCONSISTENT refereeing decisions at driving mauls are becoming a ‘real scourge of the game’.

That’s the message from Worcester Warriors’ director of rugby Dean Ryan, who has voiced his concerns to former World Cup referee Tony Spreadbury.

Ryan has been vocal in his frustration at the inconsistency of referees this season and believes his side have, at times, been forced to abandon their catch-and-drive weapon.

He has now met Championship referee development manager Steve Leyshon and Spreadbury, the overall manager.

“I don’t think it’s being policed very well and I don’t think we have got clarity,” said Ryan.

“We think we have got overwhelming evidence that it’s not being refereed very well and the inconsistency is a huge problem.

“I know Northampton Saints share our frustration — they have got a very good drive and the same problem is happening at Premiership level.

“What would happen if the driving line-out left the game?

“We are in danger of everyone being slightly smaller and everyone being a better defender.

“The line-out drive is exactly the same as the scrum — it’s a contest which brings 16 people together. If it’s done well, there are plenty of crowds who will jump up and down when they see rolling mauls moving forward.”

Ryan has been particularly frustrated after his club’s victories against Jersey and London Scottish in the Greene King IPA Championship.

The catch-and-drive from a line-out has been one of Warriors’ most attacking try-scoring weapons this term. But Ryan believes his team’s forward dominance has not been rewarded by officials.

“I think it’s a really important moment for refereeing and the IRB to look at this and say what is going on, why it isn’t being policed and what must be done to ensure the integrity of a maul stays in the game?” he said.

“We don’t get the same interaction in the Championship as we would in the Premiership but we have got long-standing relationships with Tony Spreadbury and his department.

“We expressed the need for clarity from up-top and the need for application from everyone around. We have expressed that we didn’t think clarity was happening.

“If we are getting things wrong we would like to know about it but we are being told the elements that we are picking up are correct. I know the noises from Northampton are similar.“ The Warriors chief says driving mauls should not be banished from the game simply because teams don’t know how to defend it.