Referees Corner – Issue 11 – 2024/5 – Ulster

Welcome to today’s game at the Aviva between Leinster and Ulster. Today’s match referee is Gianluca Gnecchi of Italy. Gnecchi was born in Brescia Italy, and refereed in Italy and in the Six Nations Under 20s Championship before making his Pro14 refereeing debut in the match between Zebre and Benetton on 30 August 2020, where he was assisted by fellow Brescian referee Andrea Piardi. Gnecchi refereed the 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifiers in South America, refereeing the match between Brazil and Chile on 11 July 2021. This is his third time refereeing Leinster, having refereed Dragons v Leinster in 2023 and Lions v Leinster in 2024.

He is assisted today by Andrew Fogarty and Tomas O’Sullivan of the MAR. John Carvill is the 4th official, Mark Gargan is the 5th Official. Stefano Penne of FIR is the TMO, Paul Haycock is the FPRO and Dan Wallace is the TK. We wish this fantastic team well.

As the season winds down, it is a great time to think about next season and perhaps joining the ranks of the Leinster Rugby Referees. 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.

There are a number of benefits to becoming a referee:

• Refereeing is a great way to stay involved in the game. You are in the thick of the action on the pitch.
• Fitness is a key element to refereeing and provides our referees with a great incentive to maintain their fitness.
• Education is an ongoing part of being a referee.
• There are monthly area meetings to keep all referees up to date with all aspects of the law.
• This means our referees are constantly learning and up to date with the latest law changes and interpretations.
• Whatever level you aspire to referee at there is a place for you – refereeing underage games in your area, or adult games throughout your province.
• For referees who perform at a consistently high level there are opportunities to referee nationally in the Energia All Ireland League.
• There is an excellent social aspect to refereeing. You will meet a broad range of new people and forge new friendships.
• You will gain membership to your provincial association/society. Benefits of this include access to tickets.
• Once you become a full member of your provincial association/society you will have access to all the referee gear.
• This is exclusive to members and the gear is supplied by our sponsors Castore.

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.