Katherine Ritchie (pictured left) has been appointed as Match Officials Manager at Rugby Nederland. Starting on 1 November, in a part time capacity, Ritchie will play a central part in the development, growth, and overall quality of rugby match officials in the Netherlands. The announcement described it as part time role.
She moved to the Netherlands from England in 2023, and has five international XVs tests to her name, debuting in the Spain 27-0 Russia test in the Rugby Europe Women’s Championship 2022. She has also officiated in five HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments and at the Youth Olympic Games in 2022. She will continue to referee in the Dutch domestic Ereklasse leagues and throughout Rugby Europe.
Speaking about her new role, Ritchie said, “I’m really excited to be joining Rugby Nederland and taking on the Match Officials Manager role. The game wouldn’t exist without referees, and we have an integral part to play in the shape of the game, from grassroots all the way to elite level. I think there are a lot of opportunities to support the wider referee community here in The Netherlands, and I hope to bring all of my experience into this role to help us continue to grow. I look forward to working with the rest of the union staff, the referees, the clubs, coaches, and players, and other stakeholders within the game here in The Netherlands to advocate for, to support, and to improve our referee programme and development.”
Friso Horstmeier, Chairman of Rugby Nederland, added, “We are pleased to have found an energetic and driven Manager of Match Officials in Katherine. The development of referees is a crucial building block for the advancement of the sport of rugby as a whole in the Netherlands. We wish Katherine every success in her new role.”
Be the first to comment