I was on a gap year working in a school in Perth and they sent me on a coaching course. But when I got there after a long bus journey, the people running it said the course was full. They offered me a refund or a free place on the refereeing course. As I was faced with the prospect of sitting around for ages waiting to get the bus home, I decided to go for it.
From there, I refereed the odd school game and then it was back to England to go to university in Nottingham, where I played on the Wednesday and referred on a Saturday. Injuries meant I had to give up playing the game and that’s when I properly threw my hat into the officiating ring. I enjoyed it and it was a good way of staying involved in the game. As a back row you are never far away from the action and that helps you get a good understanding of the basics of the game.
When I joined the Warwickshire Referees’ Society, I broke the mould a little bit in that I was younger than your average referee. But everyone was so welcoming and Ian Roberts was just an absolute legend, he really was a great mentor and coach and is still a very good friend. Refereeing can be quite lonely, you turn up at a club and you’re on your own but having the support of the society was invaluable to me.
Denne historien er fra April 02, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra April 02, 2023-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Brough is so Hungary to build on early adventure
BIRMINGHAM Moseley winger Daniel Brough says his love for rugby was solidified when he spent two years playing for Portuguese team Lousa alongside Chile international Pablo Casas in what he describes as a \"boy to a man experience\".
There's more to come from this England pack
ENGLAND'S win over France last weekend was a huge confidence booster ahead of Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland because of the way the team gave themselves an opportunity to win - and the players seized the moment.
Ellis was a rock that we'll never forget, vows Old Reds' Dan
NATIONAL League rugby was rocked last week when Old Redcliffians prop Ellis Joseph passed away aged 27, and captain Dan Fry says the club's focus is to honour his legacy.
Coach hails his King for the day
REDRUTH had to dig deep to see off a physical Cinderford side who deservedly took a losing bonus point back home.
Flying Falcons hoping to make it six out of six
SON of a pig farmer, Freddie Lockwood has been a headline-hogging act for Newcastle this season.
England need to be more consistent
THOSE who believe England have turned a big corner following their last-minute fireworks against France are optimists, simply because their record so far under head coach Steve Borthwick suggests there will be more boom-and-bust.
Too tall to be a pilot, I found lift-off in rugby
Jon Newcombe talks to Josh McNally who says that, without the RAF, he would not have achieved anything in the game
Bears on top but Bath go through
BRISTOL looked the stronger side on paper and so it eventually the bonus-point win still wasn't enough for them to secure a place in the knockout stages proved but Bears were left to rue a 78-19 hammering at the Rec and a surprise defeat at Bedford which left them with too much to do on the final weekend of the competition.
Great that we found a way to win, says Sleightholme
OLLIE Sleightholme insists England have finally broken their glass ceiling but urged them to take a leaf out his club Northampton's book.
Diamond's war chest for relegation play-off
STEVE Diamond has built up a war chest as insurance should Newcastle find themselves in an end-ofseason relegation play-off with key players injured, but he does not anticipate dipping into it.
