Engalnd's Elite Referee Unit has continued its succession planning and appointments programme ahead of the 2010-11 season.
Head of Elite Referee Development Ed Morrison and Elite Rugby Director Rob Andrew have confirmed full-time contracts with JP Doyle and Greg Garner after they successfully completed their two-year trainee programme that has seen both referee in the Guinness Premiership, the IRB Sevens circuit, the Churchill Cup and Pacific Rim tournaments around the world.
Luke Pearce (22) is the latest trainee to be appointed and he will work with Ed and his team of referee development managers, Tony Spreadbury and Brian Campsall, with the aim of further developing his considerable potential and he will start his new role from 1 August 2010.
Two more referees Ian Tempest (22) and Lyr Apgeraint Roberts (33) join the Elite Referee Unit in a part time capacity.
Assistant referees Paul Burton, Nigel Carrick and Rhys Davies have gained promotion into the Elite Referee Unit (ERU) after a rigorous selection process.
Ed Morrison said "One of our objectives within the Elite Referee Unit is to establish a clear development pathway for our young talent and JP and Greg's progress shows that we are delivering tangible results in this area and we aim to continue that with Luke, Ian and Lyr."
Morrison is also delighted with the excellent work being carried out by Steve Leyshon, Steve Savage and Mike Melick within the National Panels. The ERU continue to work closely with Steve Leyshon and his team in identifying officials who they believe have the potential to operate at the very cutting edge of the sport.
Morrison said: "It's vital that we recruit more referees at the elite level of the game to handle not only games in the Guinness Premiership, the LV =Cup and the Heineken Cup but also with a view to giving our officials exposure at the international end of the sport courtesy of the IRB."
Further appointments include Trevor Fisher who will act as a TMO in the Guinness Premiership and Mike Hamlin who joins the ERU as a timekeeper.
The ERU has also expressed its sincere thanks to a number of officials who given exemplary service to the sport over a number of years.
Ed Morrison said "On behalf of everyone involved in officiating at the Elite end of the game and the RFU I'd like to thank Ashley Rowden who has decided to retire from senior refereeing to concentrate 100% on his new role as an assistant referee where his vast knowledge will be of enormous benefit to young officials coming through the ranks. Ashley joined the National Panel of Referees in season 1994-95 and is widely respected throughout the game.
"We'd also like to thank assistant referees Paul Emerson and Bob Mullis who stand down after years of outstanding service to the game. They both joined the ERU in 2001 and their level of personal commitment will always be appreciated."
Elite Rugby Director Rob Andrew said: "Ed and his team have delivered some outstanding results in the development of our young referee talent and JP and Greg are just two examples of them delivering in this important area of the departments' work.
"Like everyone else connected to the Elite Rugby Department I will continue to support Ed, Tony Spreadbury and Brian Campsall with their work with a view to further positive results being achieved in due course."
From the RFU website - read here.
Sunday 30 May 2010
Friday 14 May 2010
Bitter sweet end to season
Last weekend I had the pleasure of refereeing the Devon County Cup final between host club Brixham and Barnstaple, a club who reside one division higher than the "Fishermen".
This was my second Devon Cup final, having been fortunate enough to oversee the 2008 match between Exmouth and Barnstaple, so I knew it would be a day to savour and one that would live long in the memory - Devon know how to stage a cup final.
It was a fantastic event and Brixham did the occasion proud - a thrilling game ensuing and a nail-biter for the crowd, with a drop goal the only score that eventually separated the sides as Barum ran out 28-25 winners.
However, despite the thrilling display of rugby and tremendous effort put in by the players, it was to be one of those matches that will be tinged with sadness.
Mike Browne (pictured above), Brixham's influential number 8, was seriously injured just after kick-off and subsequently replaced, but only two days later was the full shock of what happened actually able to sink in.
Browne was later diagnosed with a broken neck and underwent a 6.5-hour operation at Plymouth's Derrisford Hospital, where two bones in his neck were repaired with the aid of a titanium plate.
Report from thisisdevon
And things got worse for the Browne family when brother Kyle suffered a broken arm later in the match.
I love our sport - the passion, the emotion, the physicality - everything that it has to offer makes rugby union unique, and long may it stay that way.
But sometimes, when things like this happen, for a second you wonder if the risks players' take are ever worth it.
Mike is likely to be unable to work for a very long time and at present it is unknown if he'll play rugby again. As for brother Kyle, in comparison a broken arm is almost a "got off lightly" consequence, but it is not and when people's livelihoods are at stake it is a huge price to pay for the "love of the game".
I never want to have that phone call again - I never want to see a serious injury report form again... but I would be prepared to bet that if the Browne brothers make full and speedy recoveries, they will be doing everything they can to be pulling on the Brixham jersey again.
With the support of their club and their families, I am sure both, especially Mike, will be back at Astley Park before we know it.
I wish them both good luck in their recoveries.
This was my second Devon Cup final, having been fortunate enough to oversee the 2008 match between Exmouth and Barnstaple, so I knew it would be a day to savour and one that would live long in the memory - Devon know how to stage a cup final.
It was a fantastic event and Brixham did the occasion proud - a thrilling game ensuing and a nail-biter for the crowd, with a drop goal the only score that eventually separated the sides as Barum ran out 28-25 winners.
However, despite the thrilling display of rugby and tremendous effort put in by the players, it was to be one of those matches that will be tinged with sadness.
Mike Browne (pictured above), Brixham's influential number 8, was seriously injured just after kick-off and subsequently replaced, but only two days later was the full shock of what happened actually able to sink in.
Browne was later diagnosed with a broken neck and underwent a 6.5-hour operation at Plymouth's Derrisford Hospital, where two bones in his neck were repaired with the aid of a titanium plate.
Report from thisisdevon
And things got worse for the Browne family when brother Kyle suffered a broken arm later in the match.
I love our sport - the passion, the emotion, the physicality - everything that it has to offer makes rugby union unique, and long may it stay that way.
But sometimes, when things like this happen, for a second you wonder if the risks players' take are ever worth it.
Mike is likely to be unable to work for a very long time and at present it is unknown if he'll play rugby again. As for brother Kyle, in comparison a broken arm is almost a "got off lightly" consequence, but it is not and when people's livelihoods are at stake it is a huge price to pay for the "love of the game".
I never want to have that phone call again - I never want to see a serious injury report form again... but I would be prepared to bet that if the Browne brothers make full and speedy recoveries, they will be doing everything they can to be pulling on the Brixham jersey again.
With the support of their club and their families, I am sure both, especially Mike, will be back at Astley Park before we know it.
I wish them both good luck in their recoveries.
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