New Zealand All Blacks coach Jason Ryan has condemned the abuse directed at match officials on social media, calling it "disgusting". Ryan's comments were made following a report by World Rugby which detailed the extent of the abuse during the 2023 Rugby World Cup. According to the report, match official Wayne Barnes received a third of all abuse aimed at individuals. Ryan called for action to be taken at the highest level to address the issue, either through legal means or World Rugby intervention.

Legal action has already been taken in Australia, with other prosecutions pending in South Africa, France, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and Australia. The issue of abuse towards match officials has sparked a debate about how decisions and officiating performances are discussed within the game, particularly in post-match press conferences. Ryan believes that communication between coaches and referees could be improved, suggesting that there should be more opportunities for dialogue between the two parties.