Referees Corner – Issue 10 – 2024/25 – Glasgow Warriors

A warm welcome to another edition of referees corner.  A special welcome also to the refereeing team with Luke Pearce, in the middle. Luke joined the Devon Referee Society in 2005 at the age of 16. He previously played rugby at junior level, being part of the Exeter Saracens Rugby Club and captained a Welsh Exiles Under-16’s team. In September 2005, Luke refereed his first game, Crediton Seconds against Newton Abbot Thirds. From there, Luke quickly went through the referee system, becoming the youngest referee to be promoted to the RFU National panel in 2009. In 2014, Luke made his first Six Nations Championship appearance, acting as Assistant Referee for Steve Walsh in the meeting between Italy and Scotland. In the 2018 mid-year rugby union internationals, he took charge of his first tier 1 international of New Zealand  vs  France.  

This is his 10th time refereeing Leinster, his last being Leinster v Clermont earlier this season in round 2. His first time was Ulster v Leinster in 2014.

On Saturday, 22nd March 2025, over 30 match officials from across Ireland’s four provinces gathered at Kingspan Stadium to participate in Female Match Official Day, including some of our own Leinster referees. This event, held ahead of the Ireland Women opening six nations game against France, was made possible through the support of the Rugby World Cup 2025 Impact Beyond Programme. The initiative emerged from discussions within a dedicated working group focused on reviewing and enhancing the female referee pathway and programme.

The attendees engaged in a presentation by Amy Perrett, World Rugby Women’s Pathway Development Coach. Amy provided a compelling account of her journey as a referee, detailing her progression from officiating domestic rugby in Australia to managing international fixtures in both Sevens and Fifteens formats. Her experiences served as an inspiration to those aspiring to advance in the field of refereeing.

The group then had the opportunity to watch the highly anticipated Six Nations clash, further enhancing their learning experience. Thanks to Mongey Communications, participants were granted access to the match official communications system, offering invaluable insights into real-time decision-making on the field. Post-match discussions provided another vital learning opportunity. Match referee Hollie Davidson and her officiating team met with the attendees, sharing their reflections on the game and answering any pressing questions. This interaction allowed the aspiring referees to gain deeper insights into the challenges and responsibilities of officiating at the highest level.

Female Match Official Day 2025 marks the beginning of a broader initiative. Moving forward, the programme will continue to expand, offering further support and education to female match officials. With ongoing investment and engagement, the future of women’s refereeing in Irish rugby looks brighter than ever.

Want to get involved? 

Referees provide a vital function in servicing all levels of the game. Refereeing is also a fantastic hobby and is increasingly becoming a genuine alternative to playing the game.

Whether you have aspirations to referee at the highest level or to referee locally, there is a place for you. There are excellent support structures in place to develop referees and a thriving social aspect too.

Feel free to make contact with the Leinster Rugby Referees at hayley.whyte@leinsterrugby.ie  If you are interested in becoming a referee get in contact with us through our Facebook, our website www.leinsterrugbyreferees.ie or through X @leinsterreferee.