01 Feb Leinster Match Program – Article 10
An extremely warm welcome to today’s match official JP Doyle. It is widely known that JP is a Dubliner and a referee who has consistently improved and moved up the referee ladder since his move to the RFU many many years ago. It is great to see him in the RDS today. I remember him refereeing on the hallowed surface of Terenure College many years ago as I plied my trade on the adjoining pitch. Obviously JP ended up being the better referee, but then again he doesn’t write great article. A warm welcome to his assistants also, Wayne Barnes, Simon McConnell and Stuart Terheege. Have a great game gentlemen.
Recruitment
We will be holding a new recruits course on Saturday 21st January in Terenure College. Anyone interested should make contact with David O’Brien at david.obrien@irfu.ie .
Why become a referee? Stay with the game as an alternative to playing.
Social – The social aspect of rugby is renowned. Refereeing is a great way to meet new people and make new friends.
Fitness – It is a fantastic way to keep fit. The IRFU have the highest level of expertise in this area.
Travel – The highest level you reach as a referee, the more involvement you will have at European Competitions, Guinness Pro 12 League and the Ulster Bank League
Referees ‘a club within a club’ who meet regularly for meetings. There’s a great team spirit.
Ambition – could you referee an international match? Every referee you see on TV started out at a recruits course.
Tickets – Referees are allowed to apply for international and provincial match tickets.
Schools Cup about to hit town
The first thing most referees look forward to after the Christmas period is the Bank of Ireland sponsored Leinster Schools Senior and Junior Challenge Cups. The draw in December kicks this off, but it is the selection of referees that is greatly anticipated. Refereeing a schools cup game, be it on the great new surface in Donnybrook, the RDS, or any other club in Leinster is one of the highlights or any referees career. Not every referee gets to do one so being selected makes it a bit more special. Some referees may never have played to that level in schools, some may not have played rugby in schools at all and some are reliving past glories on the D4 pitch. Whilst any schools cup game is special for the players, it is equally special for the referee. Some referees may never be lucky enough to referee a game in front of a big crowd again, others may never referee on TV again, so it is an opportunity to be cherished.
North East History
In the last round of European games a little bit of history was made for Ashbourne Rugby Club, North East Rugby and Leinster Rugby Referees.
A team of ARLB members, made up of Sean Gallagher (Navan RFC) officiating as AR1, Helen O’Reilly (Ashbourne Rugby Club) as AR2, and Kevin Beggs also of Ashbourne acting as TMO in Stade Jean Bouin, Paris. It was probably the first time that the officials supporting the referee were all originally from North East Area clubs officiating at an EPCR match together. The match was Stade Francais v Edinburgh and was in Stade Jean Bouin, Paris. The referee was also from IrishRugby and was Dudley Phillips.
It was a very hard match with round four of EPCR games often difficult as they are they second leg of a back to back fixture. There was six TMO calls to make so a busy night all round but Dudley and Kevin probably just liked to have a chat during the game!!
Feel free to make contact with theLeinster Rugby Referees at denis.collins@leinsterrugby.ie or contact by phone Denis Collins at 01-2235107 or David O’Brien at david.obrien@irfu.ie
If you are interested in becoming a referee get in contact with us through our Facebook and Google + pages, our website www.arlb.ie or through twitter @leinsterreferee.