Referees
Young Referees Make Academy Proud
Hugh Godwin
A notable aspect of the expanded Eastern Counties Emerging Schools rugby festival at Finborough School near Stowmarket was the officiating of four young men from the local RFU’s innovative Young Referees Academy. The academy for 14 to 18 year old referees has been running since the start of the season, with nine of the original 11 recruits completing a programme which required them to referee at their school or club each week, and schools or youth festivals as required. Training and meetings were conducted during half and full-term holidays.
Referee David Locke came up with the idea and with the support of the Eastern Counties committee and the RFU’s rugby development officer Lee Adamson, he has been delighted at the initial success - so much so that the academy will run again next season, with a target of 12 participants. “It is all about getting new young blood into refereeing and there’s been a lot of interest which is very rewarding,” said Locke. “The boys are encouraged to keep playing while they develop as referees, so they can still experience what players go through. Their schools have been very co-operative, and they will all be linked now to referees’ societies within the Eastern Counties.”
Teenaged referees Stephen Burrell, Harry Series, James Fisher and Mike Green handled the Emerging Schools Festival and were involved in a fresh take on the traditional ‘fair play’ awards in the form of ’This is Rugby’ trophies which were part of the medal presentations. Each team was rated by the referee on how well they had lived up to rugby union’s Core Values of teamwork, respect, enjoyment, discipline and sportsmanship.
With 19 teams going forward from three boys’ categories - and, for the first time, one for the girls - to the London North regional Emerging Schools finals, it was a busy day all round, and Lee Adamson commented: “What stands out for me is the strength of the partnerships we have forged across the three counties and 21 School Sports Partnerships over the last two years.” The RFU’s Emerging Schools Programme began 12 years ago, and last season over 50,000 children attending schools either new to the game or with limited fixture lists were involved in dozens of festivals and leagues.
Eastern Counties Emerging Schools Festival, March 2010:
Girls: Winners Fakenham; Runners up Thomas Deacon; This is Rugby award: Cambridgeshire combined team.
Boys: Year 7: Winners Farlingaye; Runners up Fakenham; This is Rugby award: Hadleigh.
Year 8: Winners: Sawtry; Runners up St James’s; This is Rugby award: St James’s.
Year 9: Winners: Hinchingbrooke; This is Rugby award: Hinchingbrooke.
Small reaches the big time
Richard Prescott
RFU elite referee, Andrew Small has been appointed to the IRB International Referee panel for the first time in his career. Small (34) will take charge of South Africa’s home test against Italy in June. Further RFU elite referee appointments include: Dave Pearson (44) who has whistle blowing duties for the Argentina v Scotland test in the summer and Wayne Barnes (30) who will be in charge of New Zealand v Ireland and Samoa v Japan in June and the Tri-Nations match between South Africa and Australia in September.
Robin Goodliffe (53) joins the Assistant Referee Panel for the first time. JP Doyle (31) and Greg Garner (29) have been appointed to the 2010 IRB Junior World Championship panel for the tournament in Argentina.
Chris White (47) a test veteran of over 50 games comes off the IRB International Referee Panel after 12 years. Chris will continue to be part of the RFU Elite Referee Unit for the remainder of the season. Head of Elite Referee Development, Ed Morrison said “The appointments are richly deserved and all reflect the hard work that Andrew, Dave, Wayne, Robin, JP and Greg have put into their jobs over the last 12 months. Tony Spreadbury, Brian Campsall and I with Rob Andrew’s full input and backing will continue to develop our officials to ensure that we have a strong presence on the international panels and the experience they will gain from all of these games is essential to their on-going development. “I’d like to thank Chris White for the superb work he has carried out as a member of the IRB International Referees Panel over the last 12 years and his track record speaks for itself. He will continue to be a key member of the Elite Referee Unit until the end of this season at which time we’ll discuss with him a suitable career pathway. Chris has a huge amount to offer the game and we would like to utilise his considerable experience in the best way possible.”
