The Rugby Football League are to trial the use of a video referee in a non-televised match at this weekend's Hull derby.

There have been regular calls from coaches in the engage Super League in recent years for video officials to be appointed at all matches in the interests of fairness.

At present only league or cup matches screened live by TV broadcasters have video referees in place.

However, while a normal TV match is covered by 12 cameras, Sunday's trial will feature three - one on the TV gantry at halfway and one behind each goal.

The RFL will study the effectiveness of the system before deciding whether it is worthwhile or practical to roll it out across all non-TV Super League matches in future.

RFL match officials director Stuart Cummings said: “For supporters in the crowd it will be like a TV game but without the big screen broadcasting the decision and is similar to what we already do in France for televised Catalans Dragons games.

“Following Sunday's game we will review the success at length before deciding whether it is feasible and practical to introduce into engage Super League on a full-time basis.”

The only two non-televised Super League matches to have had video referees were at this year's Magic Weekend event in Cardiff, when cameras were in place to cover the other four matches.

Phil Bentham will officiate at Craven Park on Sunday with Ashley Klein making the video decisions.
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