Referees Corner – SCT Final

SCT Final 2024

Welcome to today’s Schools Senior Boys Challenge Cup Final in Tallaght Stadium.

Today’s match referee is Robbie Jenkinson. Robbie refereed his first game in 2014 while rehabbing a hand injury from playing for Skerries RFC. His Dad was a Leinster Rugby Referee and encouraged him to pick it up. Robbie continued playing until 2019 when he decided to go with the refereeing which has been one of the best decisions he’s ever made, although he still misses paying for his club. 

Robbie has referees at all divisions in the AIL, and has been an assistant referee in the URC, EPCR & Rugby Europe and has also refereed across the world in some incredible places in 7s. He has recently been selected to referee in the upcoming u18s 6 Nations in Parma which will be a massively proud moment for his family. 

We wish Robbie the very best of luck today.

Assisting Robbie today is last year’s final referee, Sam Holt and Cillian Hogan. 

Sam was educated at Maynooth Post Primary and joined the Leinster Rugby Referees in the 2013/2014 season having previously retired from playing due to injury. He was selected for the IRFU National Panel in 2020 and has worked his way up to referee AIL Division 1A since then. Sam is also a regular in the professional game as an Assistant Referee at URC, Rugby Europe and EPCR level. He also officiated as an assistant referee at his first Champions Cup game in January of this year and  had the opportunity to referee an U19 international between Ireland and Japan last season.

Schools rugby is always a thoroughly enjoyable part of the season and Sam had the privilege of refereeing the JCT final in 2022 between Cistercian College, Roscrea and St. Michael’s College at Energia Park. 

Cillian played rugby with Old Belvedere from the age of 5. He started refereeing at the age of 21, becoming a full member of Leinster Rugby Referees for the ’09/’10 season. He was selected for the IRFU National Panel in 2014 and has refereed across the AIL divisions. 

Cillian has refereed international 7s, in Europe, Dubai and Japan. He took charge of the 2017 JCT final between Blackrock College and St. Mary’s College. In 2020 Cillian was appointed to referee the SCT final which was cancelled due to COVID-19.

Today’s other match officials are 

No 4 – James Fegan

No 5 – Hayley Whyte 

No 6 – Wayne ‘Mush’ Sheridan 

TMO – Andrew Cole 

Time Official – Barry O’Keeffe 

We wish them all the very best on this wonderful occasion.

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.