Referees Corner – Issue 3 – Dragons

Welcome to another edition of referees corner. We learned of the passing of our former President (2010-11), Fran Nolan this week. We extend our sympathies to Fran’s wife Margaret and children Paul, Sarah and Stephen. May he Rest in Peace. 

A warm welcome to a fantastic team of referees led by Craig Evans of the WRU. Craig will be ably assisted by Peter Martin and Stuart Gaffikin of the USRFR. The 4th official is John Flynn, 5th is Mark Gargan, with Gordon Condell on the clock.  Craig began refereeing on the World Rugby Sevens Series in 2016. He has also refereed during the 2020 Olympics. He made his URC / Pro 14 refereeing debut in 2018, and was awarded his first Six Nations Championship match for the match between Italy and Ireland in the 2021 Six Nations Championship. This is his 12th time refereeing Leinster. 

I had a chance to catch up with Max Weston during the week. Max is on the national Panel of Referees and is in his 12th year of refereeing.

1. What made you decide to take up the whistle?

I played youth rugby at my local club, North Petherton RFC in Somerset, England but broke my collarbone around age 16. I started refereeing to stay involved at the club whilst I recovered from injury and realised (and was told!) that I was a better referee than player, so stuck with it!

1. How long are you refereeing now and what level are you at?

I have been refereeing for 12 years and currently am on the IRFU National Panel at Level 1.

1. What is the biggest thing you have learned since you started out?

I would say the biggest thing I’ve learned is confidence and resilience. Becoming a referee means you have to make strong decisions under pressure, and this has allowed me to hugely develop these aspects, both on and off the field.

1. What was the process like to become a referee?

I contacted my local referees’ society and completed an entry level refereeing course. From there, it was all a case of building up experience refereeing games (initially youth rugby and then progressing into competitive adult matches), all with the help and guidance of the local branch and the fantastic people and resources there.

1. What is your training regime like?

Refereeing can be physically demanding, and long weekends away for 7s, for example, involves a lot of time on your feet and working hard. I make sure my weekly training combines some steady-state running with some form of interval work, along with gym sessions that I really enjoy.

1. What is your favourite thing about refereeing?

It’s the people for me. I have made some incredible connections and met some amazing people through refereeing, from all over the world!

1. What is the most memorable game you have refereed so far?

I was selected to referee at the U18 Six Nations in France in 2022 and was appointed to the first game of the tournament, which was a fantastic experience. In terms of 7s, I was appointed to referee the main final of the International Invitational Men’s 7s at Dubai 7s in 2022, played on the main pitch in between World Series matches, which was a great occasion.

1. What is your pre – match routine like?

I make sure I am as prepared for the game as possible by prioritising good sleep and nutrition prior to game-day. In the moments leading up to kick off, it is important to focus – I have a pre-game playlist I’ll play in the changing rooms, go through my warm-up routine and create a relaxed yet professional environment for our team of match officials

1. What are your refereeing aspirations?

I am loving my refereeing with the IRFU and aim to keep making the most of some of the fantastic opportunities that refereeing here can bring 

10. Who is your idol or favourite referee and why?

Sara Cox – the way she has she has overcome barriers in the sport and paved the way for future generations of female match officials is inspiring

11. For aspiring referees what do you think  will make you improve as a referee?

I was often told as a young referee to “be a sponge”, and soak up as much knowledge, experience and feedback as possible to improve my refereeing. This really held true, and I think aspiring referees should make the most of all the opportunities to develop all aspects of their game – be that physical, mental or technical. Asking questions, watching/shadowing/working with more experienced referees or refereeing training games/sessions as an opportunity to put things into practice and engage with players/coaches can all be really helpful. Finally, it’s essential to be open to feedback – we are human and make mistakes! – and show that you can take the feedback on board and implement it into your game

12. What advice would you give to someone thinking about taking up refereeing?

Refereeing provides you with experiences, connections and opportunities far greater than many would expect! I would encourage anyone considering refereeing to go for it, put your boots on and give it a go! Don’t be intimated by the pressure or responsibility, but look forward to the opportunities, growth and challenges! There is a fantastic support network here that will help guide you on your journey and achieve things you may never have thought were possible – get in touch and see where it takes you!

Want to get involved? 

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 twitter @leinsterreferee.