Zimbabwe 2019 – Two go on Safari

Zimbabwe 2019 – Toto were right!   David Yates and I received the invitation from the Zimbabwe Referee’s Society in late March giving us all of 4 weeks to organise a trip involving 3 flights and 16 hours’ worth of travelling!  After some hurried searches on Sky Scanner and encounters with numerous needles ... More

Community Game Update – 7 October

Community Game Update - 7 October Welcome to the third Rugby World Cup edition of the Community Game Update, which we hope you find of interest. Please feel free to send any feedback, queries or content that you’d like featured to Vee Montebello, RFU Senior Communications ... More

Updated with downloadable video clips – Game Values – Zero Tolerance Approach

GAME VALUES - ZERO TOLERANCE APPROACH TO PLAYER APPEALING / QUESTIONING DECISIONS / GENERAL BACKCHAT   At Premiership and Championship level, a concerted effort has been made over the last 2 years to enforce Game Values and the Rugby Core Values (Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship). Core ... More

Training & Development – Society Preferred Options Papers available for download

Andy McMillan, Chairman of Training & Development, introduced the thinking behind the Society’s “Preferred Options” (PO) papers at the pre-season meetings last month. The idea is to help referees and assessors work towards taking a more consistent approach and to continually improve the performance of indivi... More

Fitness Test – Re-arranged Dates

The Fitness Test events as listed in the handbook have all been cancelled. The next tests will take place at 6pm on Tuesday 1st October (at Sedgley Park) and on Tuesday 8th October (at Preston Grasshoppers). Further dates will be announced in due course. As previously advised, fitness levels will be assessed by means ... More

Pre-Season Meetings – 22 and 27 August

The pre-season meetings will take place on 22 August at Preston Grasshoppers RFC and on 27 August at Sedgley Park RUFC.  Please try to attend one of these meetings. Kit can be collected from 7pm; the meetings will start at 7:30pm. If you haven’t already paid, subscriptions must be paid before or at the meeting if you ... More

Community Game Update

Content:  View the full version online: View Online 1. Rise and shine for Rugby World Cup 2019 2. Mitsubishi volunteer competition 3. New regulation for 17 year olds playing adult rugby union 4. GDPR/The Data Protection Act 2018 5. New high-tackle sanction framework 6. RFU Insurance – prepare for the new ... More

Mike Hamlin one of eight Judicial Chairs at Rugby World Cup

Well deserved honour for Mike. Click here to see a web copy of the full email World Rugby has announced the team of citing commissioners and judicial chairs and panel members for Rugby World Cup 2019, which kicks off on 20 September.Reflecting the international federation’s commitment to ... More

Fitness testing at levels 1- 5 “The Bronco test”

This is what is expected from Referees and ARs at the higher levels of the game.   The test being used for the 2019/20 season is the Bronco.  Which is the current test used by World Rugby Referees, and the RFU PGMOT. The test is widely used by Rugby players, and the attached documents explains the test, and ... More

Match Observers’ Training Day 28th September 2019.

The next Assessors/MO training day will be the 28th September at Preston Grasshoppers RUFC. As usual this will be for all levels of MOs, Assessors etc and those referees who are thinking of taking up watching referees. There will be a choice of games on the day at levels 4, 6, 11 and 12. Further details will be ... More