What’s Happening about DBS for MadRefs Referees and Match Officials

From the Society Safeguarding Officer A warm welcome to all my fellow MADREF members- this very strange year continues to amaze, confuse and frustrate! As a person that both lives and works in East Lancashire, I am happy to admit I haven’t really got a clue what I can or can’t do presently – and I am sure many of ... More

RFU Coronavirus (Covid-19) Update – 4th August

4 August:  The RFU issued its 34th Coronavirus (Covid-19) update. This edition includes an update on the return to community rugby roadmap. All previous updates can be viewed on the RFU website. 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

Summary of RFU courses which include refereeing for season 20/21

Manchester & District Referees' Society Ltd Summary of RFU courses which include refereeing for season 20/21. We are currently at Stage B of the ‘Return to Road Map: Community Game’’. Face to Face coaching and refereeing courses will probably only come in at Stage E or F. Kids First. There is a new ... More

Maintaining Focus – No. 4 Available + New Format

The Maintaining Focus exercises are now also available in a new online web format - just click on the name of the exercise in the table below. For each exercise the questions are listed below the relevant World Rugby video clips; clicking on the questions will reveal the "considered responses" once they are published. ... More

Proposed Informal Training Sessions

Copy of email sent to all Society referees on behalf of Fred Eckersley (Chairman of Grading) and Elliott Lewis (Referees' Representative) Would you be interested in doing some pre-season training? We have been thinking about how to help referees maintain focus and interest during this protracted pre-season period. We ... 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

2020 AGM Postponed

The Executive Committee has decided to postpone the Society AGM, which was due to be held on 2nd June 2020. An email announcing this was sent to all members on 14th May and a copy of it is reproduced below. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------... 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

Feedback on Society Meetings

Manchester & District Rugby Union Referees’ Society Ltd. Founded 1902 www.madrefs.co.uk President:  Clive Ennis Esq - '  07941 352621      š  cliveennis@yahoo.com Chairman:  Roger Bowden Esq - '  07811 161706      š erogerbowden@gmail.com In response to the recent request for Feedback on Member ... More