World Rugby Law Clarifications – Diving on the ball coming out of the Ruck and In-goal Scenarios

Diving on the ball coming out of the Ruck Message from Keith Lewis, Laws Co-ordinator, World Rugby (dated 4 February 2022) "This has just been published online and been sent from the World Rugby International Relations team to your respective Unions. Normally these would come out on a Monday, but it was a question that ... More

International Cap Awarded to Peter Hughes

26 England referees, including 6 ladies, who are still alive and have refereed a match between two Tier One Countries, were awarded their International Caps.  23 gathered, with  partners, in the Members' Lounge at Twickenham last week, for the presentation by the President of the RFU, Jeff Blackett.  Johnny Johnson ... More

Player’s Clothing – query answered

A query has arisen about clothing. A club has an Under18 player who wears a tag, which they cover with padding. Whilst this is not covered in the Regulations, please could you advise on what we can do to allow this lad to play. Reply from Michael Patz RFU Match Official Development Manager Checking with regulat... More

New PO paper: Guidance on trends in the professional game

Preferred Options (PO) paper #21 address issues of perceived disparity between refereeing at the professional and the Community Game levels. Players and coaches in the Community Game who have watched top-level games may now have modified expectations of what to expect from Society referees. The PO, which includes ... More

Updated June 1st: Restoring Focus – Additional Guidance from RFU Match Official Development Manager and Videos illustrating Law variations

Additional Guidance from RFU Match Official Development Manager To:  RFRU & Referee Society Secretaries, Referee Society Training Officers Dear colleagues, I hope you are all keeping well. This is a joint message with David Barnes, RFU Head of Discipline. As we have previously discussed age grade and ... More

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