Referees
Flying start for young ref
Callum Irvine in action
Harrogate Vets were recalling the old adage that you’re getting on a bit when policemen start to look young when they played one of their recent matches against Rowntrees. But in their case it was the referee who looked incredibly youthful. And that’s because he was. The youngster in question was 13-year-old Callum Irvine. With dad Fraser a referee and mum Angela Chairman of Harrogate Junior/Minis, Callum’s involvement at a young age is hardly surprising, but dealing with a few ‘old salts’ was certainly an experience for the youngster, who collected a fund of tales to tell. Callum started playing when he was five and although he expressed interest in refereeing when he was 10, playing commitments meant that it never went anywhere. However, earlier this year the Harrogate club arranged a refereeing course which Callum and a group of junior members attended and passed. Callum resumed his playing focus, but when an SOS call arrived late one Friday night searching for dad to handle a fifth team game, the caller also revealed that the Vets were also without an official and needing help. “All went very quiet in my house as the reality of what he had agreed to do sank in” said Fraser: “Harrogate Vets against Rowntrees was truly a daunting game to administer even for the most accomplished Vets ref. But the pre-match briefing was concise and both teams gave due respect. “Even so, after about 15 minutes the game errupted, but Callum coolly blew the whistle only for both sides to appear very sheepish, looking down on the 13 year old with high levels of embarrassment. Callum then went on to get plaudits from both home and away sides at the end of the game.”
Portuguese Refs Exchange
Paul Bolton
In October the RFU hosted two referees from Portugal on a 10 day IRB development exchange. Based in Plymouth, Joao Mourinha and Rohan Hoffmann refereed three matches each, including first round ties in the EDF Energy competitions. Harland, who hosted the referees in Plymouth, said: “Both referees were in the South West to gain experience and take the opportunity to progress their referee development supported by the RFU. “The South West Group and South West Peninsula Federation have provided games of an appropriate level, and assessments have been carried out by South West Group assessors Terry Friend and Dave Trewin. Further development support has also been provided by myself and the RFU Referee Training and Education Officer Andy Melrose.” Mourinha has had international experience on the FIRA circuit in Europe as well as the IRB Under 19s championship and sevens circuit, whilst Hoffman has made a rapid rise up the refereeing ladder after a playing career that took him to London Scottish, Worcester as well as being capped at both sevens and for the full Portuguese national side. Harland added: “It is hoped this will become an ongoing exchange programme to benefit both Portugal and the South West Group of referees.”
Warwickshire Warm Welcome
Paul Bolton
Two of Uruguay’s leading rugby referees were offciating at the birthplace of the sport on Saturday November 3. Eduardo Blengioe and Gustavo Gerbasi are spending a week in the Midlands as part of an exchange with the Warwickshire Society of Referees. They take charge of first and second team matches between Rugby School and Bedford School on The Close, the historic ground where William Webb Ellis is credited with being the first man to pick up and run with a football. Blengioe, who is rated the second-best referee in Uruguay, and Gerbasi are guests at the Warwickshire Society annual dinner at the Windmill Hotel in Coventry and also attending an RFU referees’ workshop at Ullesthorpe in Leicestershire before taking charge of two matches Stratford v Cheltenham North and Leamington v Berkswell & Balsall – before returning to South America. The exchange was set up by David Rose, the RFU’s regional referee development manager for the Midlands, who began his refereeing career with the Warwickshire Society. Rose, a former Moseley and Walsall player, now referees in the Guinness Premiership and forged links with referees in Uruguay while he was in the country in June acting as touch judge for an international against Italy. Warwickshire intend to send two or three referees to Uruguay next March in the second leg of the exchange. The link with Uruguay increases the Warwickshire Society’s international relations to three countries as they have already established exchanges with Natal in South Africa and Latvia.
