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!

I agree entirely:

Sports star ice baths questioned

Paula Radcliffe may say they are the secret of her success, but Australian research is questioning the benefits of taking an ice bath after exercise.

Physiotherapists recommend the bath as a way to speed up recovery, claiming the icy cold helps shift lactic acid.

But this is unproven, and a study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine now claims the opposite may be true.

Out of 40 volunteers, those who took an icy plunge reported more pain after 24 hours than those who took a tepid bath.

Tepid response

Ice baths have become one of the most fashionable ways of recovering after an intense game or marathon. From rugby to tennis players, the bath has a series of celebrity endorsers.

The theory is that the icy cold causes the blood vessels to tighten, and drains the blood along with waste products such as lactic acid out of the legs.

When Jonny Wilkinson or Paula Radcliffe emerge from the bath, their limbs fill up with fresh blood which invigorates the muscles with oxygen and helps the cells repair.

Although physiotherapists who promote the bath have had little evidence to prove this, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence from the athletes themselves that the bath makes them feel better.

In line with this theory, the study carried out at the University of Melbourne had expected to find a 25% reduction in pain after 48 hours among those who had the ice immersion.

Instead it found that there was no difference in physical pain measurements such as swelling or tenderness, and in fact those who had been in the ice reported more pain when going from a sitting to a standing position after 24 hours than those who had the tepid treatment.

“This study challenges the use of ice-water immersion in athletes,” wrote the researchers.

“Ice-water immersion offers no benefit for pain, swelling, isometric strength and function, and in fact may make more athletes sore the next day.”

It was unclear why the ice may had this effect, and the researchers said further study was needed.

John Brewer, Director of the Lucozade Sports Science Academy, said he did not find it surprising that there was no difference between the two samples.

“I don’t find it hard to believe that the ice doesn’t have any long-term benefit, although I would question whether the ice group really did feel more pain after 24 hours than the tepid group. The problem with pain is that it is subjective and very hard to measure,” he said.

“And because it’s subjective, there may even be a placebo effect on those who take the cold bath. It’s part of their ritual, it finishes off the endurance test, and many clearly report that it makes them feel better.”

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/health/6287210.stm

Found this on YouTube and thought Id share it

Patriotic? Me?

I’m writing this a week after arriving home. Wanted to have some time to think about things before I wrote this one. Here goes:

The rugby

The primary reason for us being there! As Ive alluded to over the last few weeks, we quickly came to the conclusion that the pace and speed of the game was above that which we were used to. However the skill levels weren’t up to it and couldn’t compete with national league rugby in England.  It wasn’t until the last night’s games that I refereed anything resembling the structured game we know and love back here. The frantic nature of their rugby was exciting, but entirely unpredictable. I re-watched bits of one of my DVDs the other lunchtime (including the comedy sending off incident) and that confirmed my thoughts.

 The professional game

We are used to a much more professional set up than they have out there. In many cases, they don’t have dedicated changing facilities, they don’t have someone who meets you and looks after you and many of the other things we enjoy back here. Speaking to the refs out there, there is little communication between clubs and referees. No-one I spoke to trained with clubs, although I believe that is now being discussed. It can only benefit everyone involved if it happens.

The social

This is where they compete handsomely. We were treated so well and looked after by Natal referees and the game itself. Where the clubs lack in professionalism, they make up for it in the bar! Down-downs as they call them are all the rage and the referees are not left out. I thank those guys who took my drinks on my (tea-total) behalf!

South Africa

Well, where do I begin. They are still struggling to get back on a level playing field, that the politics is interfering where it really shouldn’t. After so many years of apartheid, there is now a real sense of injustice and a big re-balancing game is now underway. In every aspect of life, there are targets and quota’s where ‘formerly deprived people’ have to be represented. Therefore in every refereeing group there has to be set numbers of whites, and set numbers of non-whites, whether they be black, Indian or anything else.  That has been causing problems, as seen recently in the national playing squad where people are not necessarily selected on merit. Imagine having an RWP squad here formed of people where their selection is based on racial grounds. That’s how it is out there. That’s not to say that there are some excellent referees from all backgrounds – I saw an awful lot of them and wish everyone well in their respective careers.

Our trip to the township was an eye-opener and just showed that the gap between haves and have-nots is just as prevalent as it ever was. I’m sure the moves the government are making will have a positive effect, but its going to take a lot of time and continued effort to bring those deprived areas back up to even basic civilisation. Running water and plumbing is still a dream for many.

Summary

As you may have gathered, I had a great time out there, experiencing everything they threw at us. We saw everything, the good, the bad, the hopeful. 

Was a great way to end my first year as a National Panel referee and will set me up nicely for the season to come. Hopefully not having too much time off from training will pay dividends when it comes to preseason fitness tests and those all important first games of the season.

I’ve enjoyed writing this blog and, hopefully you, my lovely readers, have found it interesting. I’ll be carrying on the blog throughout the summer and into the season to come.

Keep coming back and let’s start having some discussions on the comments sections.

Cheers

Ref

We’ve had a really good week of seeing the local sights (hippo and croc from a boat) and then a 12 hour safari trek into one of the Richards Bay game reserve. Arriving at 6 in the morning, within 10 mins we’d found 2 white rhino lurking near the road. Not a bad start! But it then took us another 9 hours to find what we really wanted – elephants. We’d just given up hope when we’d stopped to see some giraffes. As we were taking spome pcs, we heard an elephant trumpeting not far. Headed back up the road and found 3 of the little beauties in the woods we had just driven past. Great stuff.

 Thursday saw us meet up with our international colleagues who had arrived from Cape Town and we were hosted by the South African Air Force who flew us in a helicopter up the Durban coast line. What a trip. Doors open all the way!

Friday night saw our final games, in charge of the U20s play off games. With the Tri-Nations game later today, there isnt much on this weekend, so these were pretty tame affairs. Mine was a 52-5 final score. The way they worked it is a bit idd. At the half way pount in the U20s league they take the league positions and do a cup comp base don 1 v 8, 2v7, 3v6, 4v5 etc etc for a cup comp. Was obvious why the sides I had were 1st and bottom.

College Rovers U20s were the best structured side Ive seen since being out here. They played as a 15, made good yards, were disciplined and scored some excellent tries. The visitors, Jaguars played valiantly but just werent good enough, even with two new irish lads who had just arrived in the province for a few months off-season rugby.

I think Terry’s game was pretty similar, but without the skills I had.

Well, must dash, got to go pick up my tickets for this afternoon.

Next post will probably be from home where I’ll sum this whole trip up.

Thought Id tell you about my disciplinary hearing on Wednesday night.

The player pleads not guilty to punching. Fair enough I thought. Perhaps he was pleading provocation or he hadn’t actually made contact. No, his arguement was that he slapped the guy not punched him. In my mind it was clear. In the law book it says “striking” so doesnt matter a jot either way!!

Anyway, after explaining what he thought had happened, his club chairman says “We’ve also got this video that proves it”. In the vid goes, and lo and behold, shows exactly what Id said in my report. A clear right hook, to the face, after the whistle.

I couldnt believe it and the look on the panels face showed I wasnt alone.

 How silly. They found him guilty and he got 3 weeks.

Well, another two games each out of the way. The Friday night rugby here is a curious thing. We’ve had various chats about the standard of it between the two of us and we seem to be agreed that it is at out Division 2 intensity, but London 1 skill level stuff. It’s very ferocious stuff, but there is very little game planning or structure involved.

I did College Rovers v Crusaders. Crusaders took it away in the first half, getting 2 good tries early on. Five minute yellow card was, I think, my quickest of the year. I talked myself down from it being a red. Maul situation, ball coming out, the defending hooker took offence to something and threw a rather tasty punch. Fortunatley for him, it didnt land, and he was instantly apologietic (not that that had any effect on me) so he had a sterm talking to and a 10 minute break.  Had two incompetent props, one ofn each side which caused some grief at scrum time. I knew it wasnt going to be easy as Id had probs with the same Crusaders prop last week. Nothing malicious, just not up to it. I think I had 3 FKs, 2 PKs before a stern word to both that if they didnt some something right, Id have them both off and we’d prob then have to go uncontested. At last they seemed to get the message. 

 3-13 at half time which as it turns out, was the final score as well. Second half was much better as game than the first. Excellent defending by Collegians, especially in the last 16 mins when their flanker, tried to eminate his hooker colleague, but landed his punch square on the jaw of the Crusaders number 4. Unprovoked, after a scrum whistle for a knock on. Not much option for me, sadly. Fortunatley, I was due at a meeting on Wednesday evening at the ABSA Stadium, which is where the disciplinary hearing will be. Seems I’ll have to miss out on the SARFU fitness test. The price we pay eh!

 Yesterday, we headed out to referee Hilton College, one of the most renowned public schools in the East coast. They were playing St Albans, a school from Jo’burg who had hired a  sleeper train to bring them down overnight. Not sure I’d want to send 11 hour on a train with 200 school boys – however posh and well behaved they may be!

First half was pretty good stuff. Open rugby, the lads listened and reacted which always helps. Vistitors took early lead with 2 tries and then home side came back. Visitors hooker in the bin for persistent offences as the half ended 16-16. Thought I might try and emulate Terry by going for a full time draw! Second half went away from the visitors as the journey kicked in, I suspect.  Game ended 33-16, so a full house of home wins for us both.

Few interesting incidents with coaches to report. We both had words with them who, coming on to ‘tend’ to an injury, added a few choice words in our direction. Only being helpful of course, but entirely out of order. We both played the ’embarrass the master’ card. Players were apologising all to us for their behaviour!

Profuse apologies in the staff common room afterwards, but was interesting to note that clearly this is how things are out here. In his speech after, the visiting head made reference to how well we dealt with the coaches and made a point of suggesting all refs should deal with them the way we did. We’ll be passing that on to the refs we meet on Wednesday!

While Im on, I must just explain how cheap things are out here at the moment. When we got back last night we wanted some food so came out to a big shopping mall – Bluewater stylee. Found a restaurant and I had a chicken burger and (diet) chips, Terry had a the ribs. He had 2 beers, I a fresh orange (athlete that I am!). Total bill – 9 pounds.  Crazy world!

Off up the coast to Zululand later today.  Should be good!

Evening from Natal.

You may have noticed I just uplodaed a few entries. Broadband down here is pretty none existant so Im prepping them on my pda and then uploading. This is the first internet caffe Ive been to so apols.

Should be easier now we have settled for a few days so will try and keep things regular on here.

 Cheers

Ref