Well, apols for the slowness of my blogging this week. Been the week from hell in the day job. Won’t bore you with that. You’ll have to check it out at www.pressofficersare boring.co.uk

Back to normality this weekend. Running the line in Birmingham so have to take off my ‘International ref’ hat and hit my ‘touch judge’ switch. The strife of being me eh!?!  😉

New appointments are out and am pretty pleased with what’s heading my way. Got another Div 1 game and 2 A league matches so no resting on my laurels!

Anyway, Im away next week. Off for a winter break in Reykjavik. If there’s anything to report from tomorrow, I’ll fill you in on Sunday.

Wherever you are heading over the weekend, happy whistling!

Well, it feels really good to be able to say that I’m now an ‘international referee’. If I go no further in the rugby world I’ll be a happy chappy. It’s really nice to stand in the middle of 2 sides singing their anthems. They had three flags in front us, the two national flags of Italy and France and then the flag of St George in front of me. As a Welshman in exile, representing the RFU, I had to smile!

Game went really well. The mixture of French, Italian and English seemed to work OK. France won 35-8 – so much better but the Italy lads put up a reasoanble show of it. No disgraces by anyone. 

Had to deal with some typical U18 exubriances but nothing to fret about. Scared one lad – the Italian hooker because he thought he’d got away with a swinging arm coming into a ruck and the tone of my whistle put the fear of God into him! I almost smiled.

French side were far better and well drilled. The Italian back line reminded me of England last week – they threw away so much ball in good positions which cost them a bit of pride if not the game.

Only prob was the scrum. It just never settled. The French in the first half were uber-dominant and were on the line of pusing early. I FKd twice and pen twice. Had to reset too many as teh game went on but with 8 different FR variations coming on, it is tough to get right. Squads of 22 and 26 in all.

Everyone happy with me which is a bonus. Assessor only asked abut the scrum but I think he understood the issues.

 Just got a morning to kill now. Off for a wander to walk off the 5 course meal I had last night! Couldn’t believe it – they just kept coming! Won’t need to eat for a week!

Evening all

Living the glamorous life of an international referee can be hard work! Come to a few conclusions today:

1) I really don’t like flying with Easyjet – just scummy!

2) It really isn’t easy spend a long time with people who don’t speak your language (nor can it be easy for them.

Got here and was picked up by  a chap who works in the tourist bit of Piacenza Council and the Chairman of the local refs society. Tourist chap (Frabrizio) is a good chap – speaks good English so we have a good old chat about things en route to Piacenza – about 45mins SE of Milan.

Went straight to the stadium to meet another chap who seems to be running the show this weekend. Pitch is in glorious nick. Thought as we approached it , that is was astroturf. Must have been a gentle winter in these parts.

Deposited at the hotel, I went for stroll round the local – found supermarket so have stocked up on Powerade and bananas. Can’t have looked that much of a tourist as old lady asked me to help lug down some bottle of water. Well, I think that’s what she wanted as she seemed grateful that popped 2 6packs into her trolley!

Power nap followed by 45 mins in hotel gym seems to have blown out the cob webs. Feeling pretty good.

Mr Chairman (called Gandy by speaks no English) returns with another ref, Giovanni, and we tuck into a meal. Local Copa (like salami) and then a lovely tortellini thing with some bean sauce. I’m still alive so cant have been that bad.

And now Ive retired to chambers to get my head together. My first international beckons and I’m as least prepared as Ive ever been. Unlike league rugby, I cant find anything about either side. Neither seemed to have played so far, but last season at U17 they played each other twice -1 win each, neither by a great deal. Guess Italy v France will also have a bit of an edge to it no matter what age group/level it is so I need to get on top of it early, but then let them get on with it.

Could be a fun day. Weather is great – no clouds so chilly now, but was about 11 deg C today with same forecast for tomorrow. Wish me luck!

I’ve already messed up trying to explain this one, but the IRB have clarified a number of different scenarios which have cropped up in England of late:

law-ruling-who-makes-it-dead-feb-08.pdf 

Makes sense to me!

12.15am (yes – really!) – call from club to say expected evening snow has not materialised and game is on

 5.15am Alarm goes off

5.45am Leave for airport

6.15am Check in for flight to Manchester

7.10am Flight delayed for 10 mins (phew!) Dreading cancellation as 5 hour car journey is pushing it and not ideal prep!

8.25am Flight lands in Manchester having watched Cheshire under clearly a load of snow!

8.27am Leave plane

8.29am Call from club – most apologetic but expected evening snow arrived at 3am and there’s 2 1/2 inches on the pitch which they just can’t clear.  Match postponed.

8.30am Collect kit bag from carousel and then find strong coffee

8.45am. Call other officials to make sure they know they have free day.

8.50am Collect hire car. Plan was to drive the 80 miles north of Manchester, ref and then drive back to south coast airport. ETA Midnight

8.55am. Call Panel Mgt to advise of situation. Say I’ll be on M6, M42, M40 if anyone cries off and its convenient for me to detour.

9am. Call back from Panel Mgt. Ref who lives 15 mins from my intended desitination is struggling to get out of village due to snow. Im now TJ1 at EDF Cup game in the Midlands.

11am. Snooze at Service Station on M6 Toll Road. Catch up with Ref who says that they are worried about the pitch! Great.

12.00 noon. Arrive at club. Pitch doesn’t look ideal but playable – sun is shining and they say its got better in last hour.

1pm Visiting club arrive. Advises 2 capts t go and check itch and say they are happy.

1.10pm Both sides happy

2pm. Kick off.

3.35pm Final whistle. No drama. No flags, little input. No controversy.

 4.15 Leave club

4.31 Text from wife to gloat that England winning

6.23pm Call (English) wife to gloat about England getting stuffed! Yay!!!!

6.25pm. Drop hire car off at airport and collect own car.

6.45pm Home.

8.00pm Blog

8.30pm – Go pick up supper. Wife paying. She lost the day’s bet! Hoorah!

All in all, a strange day. But worth every penny!!

Well, it’s Sunday afternoon and Ive just offloaded the in-laws after lunch and now contemplating the weeks ahead.

Having TJ’d yesterday at my nearest appt for 2 years (only 55 miles), I now look forward to my next 2 weekend trips. Just booked my flight up to Manchester for next Saturday and my hire car to transport me the additional 70 miles and then the 300 miles home afterwards. Damned flights. In order to keep some form of marriage going I don’t like being away for 2 nights running so do whatever I can to get back on the Sat eve.  If anyone has any desire to travel by plane from the north to Southampton, then don’t think you can get anything after 1pm! Great.

The weekend after is an exception to my 1 night rule, but then duty calls. Ive got to (harsh I know) travel to Milan where I’ll be taking charge of my first international. It v France U18s. What fun. Flying out Friday, back Sunday afternoon. Really looking forward to the opportunity. I can get away with my rugby French but my Italian skills end after the starters menu at Zizzis!  Any of you, dear readers, know any Italian rugby phrases?

 Have a fun week, whatever you get up to.

Sometimes it can be a lonely life as a referee. Obviously word spread about my game yesterday and Ive had more calls, emails and comments than at any other time since I got on the panel.

It’s great and really makes it all worthwhile.

As for the game itself. Well, what an intro. 13-15 final score – could have gone either way.  Slopey pitch, slippy under foot and 30 players who listened and reacted every way I asked them to.  Only 12 pens. 8 first half, 4 second. Happy days! No probs from either side at the end, just some unhappy home supporters who weren’t overly amused by their sides performance. Nothing I can do about that tho!

3 bigs games down, one to go.

Well, I’m sitting here ruminating on a successful week in the metaphorical green office.

Last Wed saw the pain and torture that is The Mid Season Fitness Test. Joy! Suffice to say I passed. Experienced a new test called Battack – you stand in front of this machine and hit the lights which go on at random. 10 different ones at diff heights and off both hands. Bit like the croc games at the funfair. Did it before anything else and then straight after the JAM test.  Good test to see if visual skills and brain work when the rest of you is  knackered.

 The pain was somewhat lightened by some news about an international appt in U18 6 Nations so will need my passport in a few weeks.

Headed a mere 298 miles from home through some of the worst weather Ive ever been through. A stay with an old chum in Rotherham before heading the last 55 miles to the most scenic rugby ground Ive ever been to. Fantastic. Think Postman Pat and you get the picture. Anyway, my task was a National Cup comp with a Div 2 v Div 1. My first reffing experience in comp rugby of involving that level side.  Lower side put up a great effort, defying their league status and recent form. Div 1 side won, in the end 39-24. No complaints from anyone and a great cup atmosphere.

Back home and no chance to ponder too much. Last night had my first Guinness A league game in SW London.  Wasn’t as big a jump up as I was expecting mainly because of some poor play from both sides in patches. Saying that, the good play was awesome. Some great hands and skills, despite the slippy surface. Some FR issues – mainly pitch related, but also the blue LH was under a lot of pressure.  Anyway, another happy assessor and a whole load of stuff learnt from my end.

Great call today from the powers that be to say Ive been moved off the line on Saturday and into the middle. Div 1 debut! What fun. Got plenty of prep and chaps to chat to so will leave this blog here.

Beyond to say that 15 months ago I was accepted onto the panel and if you  told me then what Ive done so far and the level I’m now reffing, I’d have bitten your arm off!

You know, sometimes I don’t appreciate things. I was just sitting in my living room and glanced at the door at my kit, ready to go for tomorrow (only on standby). At the front of the pile of hangers is my RFU blazer.

Still mades me feel really good to see it, reminding me about the long weekends it took to get it. Took me 8 long seasons to get that jacket and I plan on keeping it for an awful long time.

No matter, where you are, or what game you are doing, just remember all the hard work you put into it and the effect you have on each game you’re responsible for.

 Happy whistling

Ref