I’m sure some of you may be interested in the appointments. They’re not that easy to find so here you go: 

World Cup match official appointments

 Also, a very interesting steer from Paddy O’Brien here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6980531.stm

Should be an interesting couple of weeks. Im sure I’ll end up commenting on here at some stage about something. Your thoughts welcome too.

Dontcha just love club reporters? Just saw this description, taken from the visitors site,  of the final moments of my game on Sat:

“We held firm, won the ball and a pinpoint pass found Petty outside the 22 metre line. He struck the ball so sweetly that it sailed over the top of the uprights and referee {Refblog} took a full 5 seconds to decide that we had now won the game, 16-13.”

Well if it had sailed over the top of the uprights it would not have been awarded, hence my well considered (!!!) decision that it had sneaked inside the left post.

Hey ho. Law book on its way to the Midlands!

Well, a nice gentle starter for 10. Not!

New side to the league v well established league side.  Visiting coach starts off by saying “Ive had a shocking week” before telling me he’s lost 4 key players since Thursday – 1, 9, 10, 12. Great me thinks! Never one to take too much coach chat before the game. Usually, they want to plant the seed of doubt, usually against their opposition. So as ever, we find ways of responding without saying anything!

Warm day, bit of a slope on the pitch.  First half pretty instense. Home side score first with great try – big Samoan (prob) centre waltzed 40m+ through a few holes.  Visitors head back into it. Driving maul, phase to phase – good stuff. Home side try to disrupt – once, then again 10m out.  Severe warning – next one goes. Perhaps a little lenient.

Next major play is visitors attacking just over 10m line. Big centre high tackles. Not a yellow in itself, but takes a 10 min spell for his forwards!   Not an easy one to manage from a spectator viewpoint. Crowd think Im harsh. On its own, Id agree, but try to point across pitch at various previous offenses to indicate its a team yellow. What else could I have done? Any thoughts?

Visitors come back with try just as the 10 mins runs out.

Second half tight. Discipline (physical and tactical) is pretty good. Ends up 13-13  as time clocks up. Visitors possession and go through plenty of pick-and-go phases. No pens, me’s hoping – working my butt off to make sure game doesnt end on my penalty. About 10 phases in – set up and drop goal. Not expecting it (idiot!) so have to move quickly to check it goes inside left upright. Spreaders-esq delay while Im in best position to award!

Personally, think 13-13 would have been a fair result, but pleased to say result wasn’t caused by me. Both coaches happy.

Worked hard on the issues raised last week, so my coach is pleased.  Await his considered remarks later on.

Got two weeks off now from panel activity – one my fault (RWC in Cardiff) but no games in my league next weekend. Will head back to society. Need a game so I can work on my sprints/match- fitness.

Any news from your end?

Well, tomorrow is dawning quickly and the first league Saturday of the season is nearly upon us.

I’ve had the proverbial kick up the backside after last week’s outing from my coach (after raeading assessors correct comments)

The kit bag is packed

The accomdation is booked (staying with Little Sis – hope she’ll supply me with an invoice!)

The refreshments are chilling

The pre-match prep is done

The routine for tomorrow is set

So…. let the games begin!

Good luck to all you chaps and chapettes on duty this season. May the whisltle treat you well, and the players even better.

The comments are open so please feel free to report your own activities or thoughts over the new season

Well, had my first 80 minutes of the season at the weekend. London Irish A v Esher – not the gentle ease in any of us would like to start the season off! But hey, was great to get that game at this stage! Would have bitten someones hand off for it last year!

Don’t know where you were on Saturday, but it was bloody hot in Sunbury on Thames, even with a 5.30 kick off.

It went surprisingly well. Was fast and furious at times, but ended up being rather disjointed. Had a few of those pens which normally I wouldn’t have blown but at this level, and at this stage, I wanted to start the season off as I mean to go on!  For example, a bit of seldging (he actually used the c word as they packs were setting). Other was the scrum half pushing his opp round the scrum. Just no need for it, but had I not dealt with it there and then, who knows where it would have ended up!

Was a little lazy at times, especially in the second half, as a wise owl in the stand pointed out to me later on. Its always good when you know you’re doing it and they spot it. Shows there are quality assessors around!

Wasn’t happy with my scrum. Set and engage went fine, but then started to pop up in second half. Blew a few gimme’s but few more I let go and reset. Sometimes they are the hardest. Will need to have a chat with a hooker or two in the next few weeks to get some advice.

Losing coach didn’t have a great deal to say which is always a good sign. What he did say was positive and in the right spirit so happy days!

Anyway, will hopefully see a DVD at some stage so may have more thoughts later on.

Have a good week readers!

For those of you who have never had the priviledge of seeing one of London’s finest referees on display, you have yet to see the joy that is our new Standard Chartered sponsored kit.

It’s almost luminous! Im off to apply some fake tan so I look OK on camera!

Have a fun weekend!

Good interview with Chris White in this month’s RW.  They don’t put it on the web but check page 104 (I think).

Always nice to see refereeing get a good press. Hopefully the RFU (if the IRB allow them) are doing some work with the media to promote our 4 guys in attendence. We are the most represented of all the refereeing countries.  Happy days!

Arrrrgggghhhh! Been a visit to Cardiff to visit some old chums and my training regime has taken a hit! Too many meals out, not enough gym/leg action. Got back this aft and straight to the gym. Feel better for it now.

Plan for the week:

Today – gym

Tomorrow – fitness session

Tues – spinning/session at club

Wed – treadmill/row/cycle/cross training

Thurs – Middlesex 7s briefing

Fri – swimming

Sat – Middlesex 7s – bot worried that my first session on the pitch this season will be live on TV and in front of 40,000 people. Mmmm!

Have a fun week one and all!

In my battle to get fit(ter!) for the coming season I hauled ass out of bed this morning to go spinning. Haven’t done it for years and, it pains me to say, it was great fun. Beats the wussy efforts I usually make at the gym. Being part of the class was a real driver for me. Must do more of this.

 Knees hurt a bit this evening tho. Hopefully just a reaction to something new.

Happy training everyone!

So, after a week or so off, it’s time to start thinking about the season ahead and its never easy to get monivated or inspired to head back to the gym.

Have to say, Im usually in that category entirely but being invited to the nat one clubs conference in August is a pretty good motivator. Oh, and the live TV that is the Middlesex 7s. Can’t wait for either – for obviously different reasons!

Also had my new kit through from HQ. You gonna see some very swanky looking match officials this year.  All small things but really act as a motivator to stat the season well. I can’t afford to have a slow warm up and be at full speed sometime towards the end of September. Full speed starts on August 18th, live on TV at the home of rugby in the UK. Add that to fitness testing on 22nd August by the girls at Worcester Uni and a coach who deserves to see his charge do well, (and a charge who wants to do well by his coach) and you got quite a few motivators all bundled up into one.

 Whatever your motivation is, start thinking about what’s around the corner. It’ll be right with us before you can blink!