This week, I caught up with Jamie McGregor who is the Match Official Manager for Community Rugby at Rugby Australia to talk about referee development. He oversees the 2,200 referees and officials across the 30 referees associations in Australia. He and his team take referees up the development ladder before they enter the elite referee teams.
We have a great chat about the issues Rugby Australia faces in both recruiting, but then focussing on retaining referees by developing them. We talked about the way RA coaches referees and their focus; the big challenges facing referees as they climb up the ranks, and we set you some homework! Get a pen and make some notes! (Interview starts at 9mins 25)
In the news element of the show we cover:
- the Rugby World Cup 7s referees in San Franciso
- A plug for RugbyPhotographer on Instagram – give him a follow!
- Angus Gardner’s appointment to the Super Rugby Final
- Aimee Barrett-Theron being shortlisted as Women of the Year in the South African GSport Awards – If youre in SA, go vote for Aimee! https://gsport.co.za/voting/
- RFU to trial a lower tackle height in the Greene King Championship Cup
- No changes to current Tackle in the Air laws or TMO Protocol after WR Council
