No censure for Tana

Tana Umaga wrapped by the Waratahs defence

Former All Blacks and Hurricanes captain Tana Umaga has escaped censure for his comments about referees in the Super 14 competition.

He made the remarks after the Hurricanes' last round match against the Waratahs in Wellington at the weekend.

His comments were referred to Sanzar by the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Umaga said the Super 14 referees, South African Jonathan Kaplan excepted, were below the standards of the northern hemisphere referees and said he was prepared to cop a fine for making the comments.

However, Sanzar tournament director Peter Rowles said in a statement that Umaga's remarks did not breach the code of conduct and would not be referred to a judicial officers.

Because Umaga directed his comments at the refereeing standards across the Sanzar unions and did not criticise or attack an individual referee, he was deemed to have not infringed the code of conduct.,

Rowles said he had looked at all facets of the comments and had taken into account the spirit in which Umaga made the comments.