By Dave Woods BBC Sport rugby league commentator

Rugby league referees and touch judges are set to be wired for sound.

From this weekend, the two touch judges and the referee will be connected by a new communication system that allows them to talk to each other during every Super League match.

Television technology has become an integral part of rugby league

"It's quite an investment by the RFL," said the league's director of referees Stuart Cummings.

"The system will be installed at every ground and the officials will each wear receivers and transmitors.

"It means if a touch judge spots something he can instantly inform the referee instead of trying to catch his eye.

"And after a decision, a referee won't have to run 40 yards to consult with his touch judge.

"They can just talk normally to each other from wherever they are on the field."

Cummings also hit back at recent criticism of the video referee.

There have been complaints that referees are referring too many incidents to the video referee, and that the video referee takes too long to make a decision.

There have been a lot of tough calls so far this year but in my opinion only one mistake has been made Referees' chief Stuart Cummings

"It's here to stay, that's the first thing," said Cummings. "But we aren't just standing still with the technology.

"This season, for example, we have appointed a panel of six video refs, who meet each month to discuss the decisions that have been taken.

"There have been a lot of tough calls so far this year, but in my opinion only one mistake has been made.

"In the St Helens-Leeds game at Knowsley Road you may remember Kevin Sinfield was in the act of putting the ball down when Paul Wellens kicked it out of his hands.

"That should have been a penalty try and it wasn't given, otherwise I've been very happy.

"The video refs themselves can only be as quick or as slow as the replays allow them to be. With 17 cameras at a match, it can sometimes take time for the right angle to be found."

Have your say on the debate

Cummings has also ruled out the possibility of giving the referee the final call once he has offered up the decision to the video referee.

The "ref's call" is allowed in Australia, but it will not be used over here.

"In my opinion that would be nonsensical. The referee is obviously unsure if he asks the video ref for a decision in the first place," said Cummings.

"What does happen is that the ref and the video ref will consult with each other, before the video referee gives the final decision."