World Rugby Law Clarification 1 – 2021 Relating to Law 3.6 & Definitions

Law Clarification: When a referee whistles a penalty or a free kick, is the ball considered dead, in which case, is a player replacement possible? Clarification of the designated members of the Rugby Committee There are two issues which must both happen for the replacement to occur: The ball is dead The Referee ... More

Updated: World Rugby Law Application Guideline: Head Contact Process – With Wayne Barnes Video

World Rugby Law Application Guideline:  Head Contact Process - Effective from 10th March 2021 To help our members return confidently to the field, the RFU have produced a number of short topical video’s supported by Professional Referee colleagues, entitled Connected Match Officials. This is the  link for Wayne Barnes ... More

Your Development and the Preferred Options Papers

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

Match Officials Who Attend Age Grade Coaching Sessions

From: Steve Bradford RFRU Safeguarding Manager Sent: 21 July 2020 19:40Subject: Match Officials Coaching at Age Grade Rugby Companions, I have received the following clarification from RFU Safeguarding Team in respect of Match Officials who attend Age Grade coaching sessions Society’s should ensure that a ... More

World Rugby issues breakdown law application guideline

World Rugby issued a law application guideline for the breakdown on 2nd April following the Executive Committee's approval of recommendations by the specialist breakdown working group. According to the RFU this came about after considerable lobbying from the RFU (and others) to help enforce existing law and help to reduce ... More

RFU Match Official Development

  Match Official Development Distribution List: RFRU Secretary Referee Society Secretaries Match Official Development Officers Match Official Panel Development Managers Monday 23rd March 2020 Dear colleagues, We hope that you are all well and we are sure that like many of us you will be monitoring ... More

A Player’s Headcase Story

RFU Headcase Page   James Doherty – A HEADCASE encounter My story is one of misplaced pride, stubbornness, fear and thankfully perspective. Having played all my junior rugby at Fleetwood and later at Sedbergh School I enrolled at the University of Leeds and subsequently, Wharfedale RUFC, ... More

Safeguarding and DBS Checks

For the attention of all members who wish to officiate at matches involving players under the age of 18 The RFU have declared, starting next Season (2020/21), that all Match Officials who wish to officiate U18’s matches must be Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked. ***  "DBS Checking of Forms" sessions on 17th ... More

Update from the RFU: Revised Front Row Logic Tree

Message from Michael Patz, RFU Match Official Development Manager Questions raised recently in the National Leagues and community game, have highlighted widespread confusion over teams being unable to replace a front row player, leading to uncontested scrums. We have therefore revised the front row logic tree to offer ... More

Technical Area Protocol

Lancashire Disciplinary have outlined the Technical Area Protocol as below: RFU North have similar instructions. NORTH DIVISION ADMINISTRATIVE INSTRUCTIONS 2019 - 2020 para 12:   Introduction There is a growing trend to ignore the technical area. Clubs and coaches use the excuse “the ... More