New Elite Referees announced

Elite Rugby Department Strengthens Referee Unit With Two New Trainee Full Time Officials

7 May 2008The Elite Rugby Department of the RFU has announced two new appointments to its Referee Unit under the management of Ed Morrison. Two new trainee full time officials, Greg Garner and JP Doyle take up their new posts on September 1, 2008. Both Greg and JP started their officiating careers in the community game and have made consistent progress over the last five years. Head of Elite Referee Development (Designate), Ed Morrison said “Greg and JP are outstanding prospects and our aim is to have them acting as touch judges in the Guinness Premiership in the 2008/09 season and as referees in the elite domestic game in 2009/10. “Their appointments underline our commitment to providing more full time resource to support the elite game, encouraging young referee talent and potential, and rewarding it at the appropriate time during their development and careers. “Credit must be given to the National Panel coaches and assessors who have worked with Greg and JP over the last few years. They are all volunteers who give up significant amounts of time to assist referee development and it’s encouraging to see that referees of the appropriate quality are being produced for the elite game. “Steve Leyshon (Panel Development Manager) and Steve Savage (Panel Development Officer) should also be thanked as they have worked very closely with  Greg and JP.” Greg Garner and JP Doyle will join Chris White, Dave Pearson, Wayne Barnes, Rob Debney and Andrew Small as full time officials in the Elite Referee Department.

Greg Garner said “On behalf of JP and myself we’re delighted to be offered the opportunity to work with Ed Morrison and the full time referees. Ultimately our goal on the domestic stage is to take charge of a Guinness Premiership match but we both know that we have a lot of work to do before that opportunity presents itself. We will however have excellent support from Ed, Brian Campsall and Tony Spreadbury (Elite Referee Development Managers) and their experience can only benefit us.”

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