Super Rugby referees believe the introduction of a white card this season will take pressure off them and help the game’s authorities remove foul play.

The white card will allow referees to refer to a citing commissioner alleged incidents like biting and gouging that on field officials might not have seen.

“I think it will assist us in removing incidents from the game that the IRB and SANZAR are trying to remove and clean up the game in terms of foul play,” referee Andrew Lees said.

“That (new system) makes it a bit clearer for the public, who in the past may not have known things are going to the citing commissioner. We’re just making the the process a bit more transparent to the public eye.”

Another referee, Ian Smith, didn’t think the white card would lead to a reduction in yellow cards, that result in a 10-minute ‘sin bin’ for the offender.

“But it gives us another resource that we can use for an item that may not meet a red card threshold,” Smith said.

NSW coach Michael Foley supported the introduction of the white card.

“I think anything that helps tidy up that judicial process, makes it slicker, is a good thing,” Foley said.

“I see only positives in it.”