Match Official Development Update

Please find the briefing report for the RFRU Board meeting held on 17/01/2019, which has been circulated to referee societies. Match Official Development Priorities 2018-19 Click here for document More

RFU Discipline Report Writing Guidelines

Advice from the RFU on filling in Red Card Forms, remember help is always at hand from the Society. Click on above to go to document. More

The Case of the Disappearing Grading List

The case of the disappearing Grading List At the Society meeting on 4thDecember 2018 I undertook to ask the Society Executive to consider arrangements for access to the Grading List.  I had erroneously thought that the Grading List had been removed from the Society website on the basis of satisfying the ... More

FAO: All Match Officials

Dear Match Official, In August 2018 the Rugby Football Referees' Union and England Rugby's Match Official Development Team introduced a nationally standardised approach to supporting the development of match officials, placing the match official(s) at the centre of a two-way high quality feedback process. The Rugby ... More

Paying and Claiming Referee Expenses

Expenses 1) Payment in cash There have been instances recently whereby referees have been asked to provide bank details so they can be paid by Bank Transfer. The Society has stated that payment should be paid in cash and a copy of the letter which has been sent out, primarily to schools and colleges is reproduced ... More

New Match Official Forms to be Used From 8th December 2018

The Referee assessment forms and guidance notes have been updated.  Please delete the old forms and use the new forms which can be downloaded from the website. See new documents added this month. There is also a useful pre-match preperation and briefing document for referees and a aide memoire for advisers.   More

Filling in the New Red Card Form Change for School Games

There has been a number of instances recently where the reports have had to be corrected to clarify the situation. Rob Sheard is available to advise on the completion of the forms.  Should you be in any doubt and need help or advice please contact Rob Sheard at redcardandabuse.madref@gmail.com Also please note that if ... More

Age Grade Yellow Cards – Suspension Time Changes

See extract from pages 258 & 259 of Season 2018-2019 RFU Handbook  SIN BIN TIME FOR AGE GRADE RUGBY Effective from 1 August 2018 RFU REGULATION 15 – AGE GRADE RUGBY (APPENDIX 9) U15-U18 Variations to the World Rugby Laws of the Game - BOYS ONLY Players and Match Officials must ensure that the World ... More

New Law 9.19 to be implemented with immediate effect

Law 9.19 In open play, any player may lift or support a player from the same team. Players who support or lift a teammate must lower the player to the ground safely as soon as the ball is won by a player of either team.  Sanction: Free-kick The existing law 9.19 to 9.25 will be re-numbered as 9.20 to ... More

WTR – Update and Action Required (Clubs and Referees)

The Appointments Team are now making appointments for the first games of the season; many clubs and referees have already received notification emails from WTR – many more will follow! Requests to our Club Contacts (called "Club Fixture Secretary" in WTR) If you have not done so already, please logon to WTR so ... More