So what’s been going on in Refblog world? Well life as a 4 person household continues to keep me rather busy, and that darned nuisance that is work doesn’t help either!! Boy boys continue to thrive – just wish the littlest hobo would sleep!! We lucked out in that department again. Hey ho – they’re both fit and healthy and that’s the important thing. Sleep can wait…

And the rugby? My inability to train to the appropr standard has taken its toll but I’ve been trotting about still and am really enjoying the games I’ve been involved in. Have been honing my AR skills at Champ level and then in the middle in Nat 2. The absence of pressure that comes with being in the pro world that is the RFU Championship is great (although I do miss it and want to get back there – I think!!)!! Been a few years since I regularly reffed at this level and it has it’s own challenges. Decided early on not to drop my own standards but to try and encourage the players to play to me. On the whole it’s worked. The main area it hasn’t has been in verbal dissent. It’s evident that some of my colleagues clearly allow the constant appealing and chat from, and between, players. Not banter, but sledging. Not a fan and I try and manage before the game, but sometimes the message doesn’t get across. Learned behaviour and all that. Please guys – just play the game. Fellow refs – please don’t let it get into our game. In the now famous words of Lord Owens of Pontyberem: “This is not soccer”!!

And on that point, the littlest hobo has once again fallen asleep on my shoulder so I’ll leave you to your Sunday.

Happy whistling!!

Going to be a big surge in rugby n the next 4 years. And somewhere along the line, someone will realise we need more referees to help the game flourish. Will your Society/Club be ready?

While I’ve missed that Saturday morning/lunchtime trip up the A3/M27, it’s been great to be at home supporting Mrs R and doing normal family stuff, and watching the micro people growing quickly! I guess that’s what you normal people call a “weekend”.

But yesterday, I headed east, along the A27 into sunny (not) Sussex.

Reacquainted myself with my usual front row brief patter, and the good chat and banter that is the AR briefing. Good game ensued, home win secured with BP and the most important thing the losing coach had to discuss was about the use of the technical area. More than happy to listen to his problems if that’s all he had for me…

Not suffering too much this morning, so can’t be that old and out of it! Just got to get cracking with the fitness and get back into tip top shape.

Hope everyone else has had a good start to the season, whether whistling, playing or coaching.

Stay well
Ref

The Refblog family expanded last Saturday and we welcomed Isaac into the world. Weighed in at 7lb 10 and was born here in Refblog Towers at 2205.

All doing really well

One when that’s done, a new dawn will soon be breaking in the Refblog household. Refblog Jnr II is due to put in an appearance in a few weeks so it’ll be back to less sleep, and trying to do a good job of being a daddy and helping Mrs R! Should be fun! Does mean Im popping this reffing malarkey back in its rightful place down the priority list. Too often, its not – not something Im particularly proud about but they (the Refblog family) are the most important thing. There’ll always be rugby, and matches to referee. But for a while, Ive got more important things to focus on. Looking forward to it and will keep you updated.

For those in play offs, or Cup Finals, or tournaments – Good luck and enjoy!!

Anyway, I just stumbled on his new blog – his pearls surrounding the challenges he is on through Lent this year. Well worth a read – here.

I too have given up a few things – chocolate (obviously!) and then crisps. Im nearly a week in and the resolve is holding out despite the efforts of Mrs Refblog who bought a bumper bag of Walkers the other day (other brands are available!) and my own stupidity in that last Monday I opened up a packet of yummy Germany choc squares with Marizpan on them – a fact Id forgotten I’d done when I decided to drop Choc for lent. Careless. They still remain opened on the side in the kitchen. Must take them to work tomorrow!

So if you see him during the next three weeks – offer him water. If you see me, offer me anything as long as it’s not chocolate or crisps!

As you may have gathered from my Twitter feed, the Refblog family have moved home. Well, sort of. We’ve bought and own a new home – we haven’t yet moved into it. Joys of updating a home lived in by others for over 20 years. Let’s just say that our friendly plasterer is being kept in dust sheets for a few months!!

So when we get all that done, it will be a few coats of paint, some new carpets and we’ll be able to move in!

Oh yeah, and I’ve squeezed in a few rugby matches too. Nice to see some new places too. Jersey – what a great place!

With the impending Refblog Jnr II in the offing, I’m not going to be round for the end of the season, so I’m being used as a troublesweeper while my comrades in the Champ refs squad concentrate on the play offs. I’d love to be involved at that level, but with so much going on in the Refblog world, that’s where my focus has to be.  And it wont be long before I need to be careful about how far away from home I go!

Looking forward to being involved in some pressure games of a different sort – with promotion and relegation at stake throughout the leagues, it’s good to have the confidence of my masters to be dropped into these games. Hopefully I can pay off that confidence by staying off radar and out of controversy’s way. That is after all, what we all try and do.

First stop – Daily Mail Cup semi final on Saturday!

Fingers crossed!

Lots of good stuff in this feature on BBC website