Referees and players... read this

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/3123766/Richie-McCaws-breakdown-break-down

This is well worth a read if you play the game or referee it - arguably one of the, if not the, best in the business when it comes to the breakdown.

Lord knows most of us have nearly had a breakdown when trying to referee one!

Steve Walsh back on the Super 14 panel

As I've worked with Lynon Bray (Women's World Cup), Garratt Willisamson, Jaco Pepyer and Tappe Henning (7s World Cup), it's good to see these guys making the news for all the right reasons!


SANZAR has announced the team of referees from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa to whistle the Investec Bank 2010 Super 14 competition.

Acting SANZAR Referee Manager Lyndon Bray announced a core team of eight Super Rugby referees, and a reserve panel of nine referees who will have the chance to officiate at Super Rugby level as required.

All eight referees in the core ‘merit’ panel have extensive experience at Super Rugby and international level. This team of lead referees includes four international referees from South Africa, three from New Zealand and one from Australia.

“We are very fortunate to have such a strong team of internationally experienced referees – they set a very high standard of performance across all three SANZAR nations,” Bray said.

The selections see a return to Super Rugby for former New Zealand and international referee Steve Walsh after a one-year absence. Walsh, who now referees in Australia, will start in the reserve panel alongside Air New Zealand Cup referees Vinny Munro (New Zealand) and Nathan Pearce (Australia), and six other SANZAR referees.

“It’s great to have this high calibre of referees in the reserve crew and we fully expect that they will be promoted quickly into the senior group of starting referees for Super Rugby.
"Steve Walsh is an experienced international referee and we welcome his experience into the camp. Several referees in the reserve panel, whom have previously refereed Super 14 matches, will have the opportunity to seek promotion to the merit panel, subject to form,” Bray said.

The Super Rugby referees and reserves have been selected for the first time under a new SANZAR selection process.

The new SANZAR Referee Selectors - Colin Hawke (New Zealand), Andrew Cole (Australia) and Tappe Henning (South Africa) - will closely monitor referee performances as part of a promotion/relegation system.

“This performance-based system ensures we are open, transparent and accountable as match officials,” Bray said.

An unusually large number of reserve referees had been named in anticipation that some of them would be promoted quickly into the core group."

The referees selected for 2010 Super Rugby match official duty:
Merit Panel: Jonathan Kaplan, Craig Joubert, Mark Lawrence, Marius Jonker (South Africa)Bryce Lawrence, Chris Pollock, Keith Brown (New Zealand)Stuart Dickinson (Australia).

Reserve Panel: Steve Walsh, Nathan Pearce, Paul Marks, Ian Smith (Australia), Jaco Peyper, Pro Legoete (South Africa), Vinny Munro, Garratt Williamson, Jonathon White (New Zealand).

The Twickenham experience

Last weekend I had the honour of running the line at the women's Investec Challenge match between England and New Zealand at Twickenham.

And what an honour it was - my second outing on the hallowed turf of TW1, the first being another touch judge (or assistant referee for the PC brigade) appointment for the England v Italy women's clash after the men did battle in the Six Nations in 2007.

On the whole the day was fantastic, as you would expect when you're privileged enough to be involved behind the scenes. There were plenty of memorable bits, but two people on the day seemed oblivious to what this occasion meant to mere mortals like me.

You know the type I'm sure - jobsworths. Give 'em a badge and an ounce of responsibility and they rule the world.

In 2007 the people we met behind the scenes could not have been kind enough. The security guys, the RFU media staff, the press photographers, RFU liaison, etc, were simply brilliant.

Even the chap paid to guard the England dressing room let me and my colleague have a sneakily peek inside after the game.

On Saturday, however, while the majority of those involved were accommodating and friendly (like those allowing us to go pitch side to watch the All Blacks' Haka) two people in particular seemed to have a sense-of-occasion bypass.

OK, so the officials' team arrived early (20 minutes) and, as it was pouring down with rain, the gate staff kindly let us through. The security people were just as obliging and as we entered the tunnel area, the security guys there too offered a warm welcome.

But it seemed our arrival ahead of schedule was to cause particular annoyance to one member of staff who instead of asking us politely to simply wait while she checked that the allocated changing room was free, saw fit to whine and moan as if we'd asked her to dismantle the entire stadium and rebuild it 6ft to the left before half-time.

Seriously, why make a mountain out of a molehill? This employee's obvious disapproval at our early arrival caused the security men much amusement and, thanks to them, some sense of reality was retained. But give someone a walkie-talkie, a tunnel pass and a flashy job title and then watch out - cross at your peril!

Eventually we were shown through to the changing room (which was empty and, yes, it does begs the question why is wasn't simply checked when we arrived) and it was time to prepare for the game, while catching glimpses of the senior men's match on the TV the RFU installed in the changing room (a top idea).

And so enter stroppy person number two. The referee for the game had brought with him only one spare set of kit as he presumed I'd have one (he can be forgiven, he's Irish - sorry David Keane). But fear not as knowing the TJs on the main game meant a simple borrowing of kit at the final whistle.

Pretty straight forward you would think. No, because arsey pants number two refused me entry into the match officials' changing room.

Despite the fact I was obviously known to the officials (both Irish TJs and a South African), the second mardy arse of the day (although I didn't see a walk-talkie I admit) physically stepped across the changing room door and blocked the entrance, while bleating "you're not allowed in, no, sorry, you can't come in here - match officials only... blah, whine, blah..."

And so the assistant referee, now in the changing room and holding open the door, looks over mardy arse's shoulder, makes an amusing gesture in their general direction and indicates to me that he'll bring his kit out.

My natural instinct was to ponder questions in mardy pants' direction as to who exactly she thought she was and did she not think that it was blindingly obvious (considering I had boots on and an RFU tracksuit) that I was indeed a match official?

For once my "fight or flight" instinct told me this was a battle I would probably lose, so I waited for the touch judge to come back, laden with kit.

I can't repeat what he thought of the episode, but needless to say a slightly over-the-top reaction from the aforementioned stroppy britches was concluded.

Having said that, I met lots of great people last weekend who made the day at Twickenham a very special one that I will not forget. To them I say thank you - you appreciate what such an occasion means.

To niggly pants and hissy knickers - lighten up and realise what a visit to Twickenham means to those operating at the community level week in week out.

Cockerill and his mouth...

LEICESTER TIGERS Head Coach Richard Cockerill was yesterday suspended for four weeks after pleading guilty to two offences of match official abuse during the LV= Cup match against Newport Gwent Dragons on November 14.

Cockerill is banned from any involvement with the Leicester Tigers team or match officials on game day and from coaching mini, midi and youth rugby on Sundays until December 23.

He was also fined £2,000.

Referee hits 50th Test Landmark

RFU Elite Referee Chris White will take charge of his 50th test match when Scotland line up against Fiji at Murrayfield this weekend.

In a 14-year international career, Cheltenham born White has officiated at three Rugby World Cup's including taking charge of the New Zealand v Australia semi-final in 2003.

White first picked up a whistle at the tender age of 17 when he wasn't allowed to play on a Saturday due to school trials and in the pub the night before he was persuaded to be the referee for the Cheltenham Saracens 3rd XV fixture the next day.

A centre for Cheltenham Grammar, Cheltenham Saracens, Cheltenham RFC he went on to play at Swansea University after previously representing Gloucester Schools at U16 and U18 levels. His first game as an international official came in November 1995 when Italy hosted South Africa and his test debut as a referee took place two and a half years later when Georgia faced Russia.

White went on to act as touch judge in another 63 test matches and as a referee in three Heineken Cup finals including Munster's win at the Millennium Stadium in 2006, 2 Premiership finals and 1 Tetley's Bitter Cup final. He has currently been in charge of more Premiership matches than any other referee.

White said: "I am looking forward to the game this weekend very much. I'm grateful for the immense support I have received from so many colleagues in so many places and roles over the years.

"I have been very fortunate to have witnessed many wonderful occasions and have been privileged to be on the field with the best players in the world. I am still enjoying all aspects of refereeing and I'm looking forward to the kick off at Murrayfield."

IRB International Referee Manager Paddy O' Brien said: "Chris has been an outstanding contributor to international refereeing over the last 12 years and I would like to congratulate him on his 50th international.

"It is not just what Chris brings to the field of play but just as important is the respect and experience he brings to the international panel that has been a hallmark of a wonderful career. I will be at the match on Saturday and I'm looking forward to another excellent performance."

Pumas make an early appearance at Twickenham

The Argentine Rugby Union team, the Pumas, are making the most of their time in and around Twickenham Stadium next week.

As they prepare for their game against England at the stadium on November 14, the Pumas will be making a personal appearance at the Rugby Store at Twickenham Stadium on November 12 from 2pm-4.30pm.

Rugby fans and Puma supporters are invited to come along, meet the team and get their autographs in the store on the main concourse.

Well known players such as Gonzalo Tiesi, Juan Martin Fenandex Lobbe and Rodrigo Roncero will all be present thanks to their sponsor adidas who have organised the session.

Andy Ward of the RFU said: “It's fantastic that even in a busy Test week, the Pumas are taking some time to meet the fans.

"We are hoping that parents will be able to bring their children on the way home from school to drop in and meet the players who will grace the field on the Saturday. This is a rare opportunity and one we are grateful to Adidas for organising.”

A busy November lies in wait

I like to be kept busy - it works for me, and on that basis November is looking good both on and off the pitch.
Off the pitch, my rugby-writing colleague at the Bath Chronicle has the small matter of a new addition to the family looming, so I will be kept busy covering Saracens v Bath, Bath v Ospreys, Worcester v Bath and the last home game of the month - Bath v London Irish.
But it such a shame that Steve Meehan's men have had such a poor start to the season, with last weekend's defeat to Newcastle rubbing salt in the wound.

On the pitch, though, November is also full on, starting on the 7th with a game in National Two South, followed by an evening encounter at Esher RFC on Tuesday, November 17th when England A take on New Zealand.
The Black Ferns take on England in three matches, the first - a full Test - at Esher on Saturday, November 14th, the second at Esher and the third - the second Test - at Twickenham on Saturday, November 21st.
And the great news for me is that England women's second test at TW1 is a double-header, as the men take on the All Blacks, with the women kicking-off afterwards at 4.45pm.
Both games are live on Sky and I'm extremely privileged to be appointed as an assistant referee at Twickenham, with the iRB's David Keane (Ireland) in the middle.

Any involvement with a match at the hallowed turf of HQ is an honour, and to be there on international duty when the Martin Johnson's men take on the mighty All Blacks is the stuff dreams are made off.

All we need now is for Bath to start doing the business on the pitch too - and they need to start producing some results quickly if they are to avoid mediocrity this season in the Guinness Premiership.