150 refeees on file

02/12/2000 - 30/12/2000

Refereeing must remain central to the development of rugby. The work of the committee presided over by René HOURQUET is therefore focusing its efforts on ensuring that a maximum number of nations is represented on the FIRA-AER refereeing panel.

According to Patrick ROBIN the panel currently consists of 150 individuals. The process for discovering and honing talent is to firstly observe the referees at games and then to invite them to take part in three-day courses involving training, refereeing of one or two matches followed by analysis and conclusions. The starting point will be the U17 workshops. All of this will take place in close collaboration with the IRB and will involve a robust exchange of information. A good example of this in action is the Women’s Sevens Rugby course which took place in Lisbon and was attended by Scotland and England. An illustration of the solidarity among the European nations is demonstrated by Finland’s proposal to provide assistance to Estonia in this area. Estonia is to benefit from the visit of referees and trainers to assist in its training courses. René HOURQUET recommended that a special effort be made at lower levels (youth rugby), congratulated Romania on its excellent policies in this area and announced the creation of a referee centre.