Ref Round 17

[Ecky]

So many players who love the game and then give it all up, 'cos of injury, size, weight etc. often move on and get lost to the game. Refs association should encourage the clubs to suggest to these guys to look into reffing. Clubs do try and get these guys into coaching, but that sometimes becomes too hard as many fear coaching their peers. The more ex players that join the refs ranks the better I say...

Also, good to see ref coaches watching lower grades and helping refs in 3rds and 4ths etc.

The Refs Association does encourage such things from clubs. Maybe a current player considering retirement sees coming to The Dark Side as some sort of stigma and resists the temptation?

Seems there's a lot of players (and spectators) who offer the referee a fair but of encouragement and advice about how their game is going, yet they seem unwilling to let all teams have the benefit of their wisdom - and showing the curent refs how it should be done properly - by getting their ref qualifications.

Come you guys - it's easy!

[fulvio sammut]

Sadly, masochism is not a common trait, not even amongst retired rugby players ...

[Ecky]

A common misconception.

We always get called "sir", the players seem genuinely fearful when we reach into our pockets for our cards; sadism, surely?

Also, we are often the toast of the clubroom at the post-match shindig. Oh, hang on, wait, let me check that last bit.........

[GIGS20]

A common misconception.

We always get called "sir", the players seem genuinely fearful when we reach into our pockets for our cards; sadism, surely?

Also, we are often the toast of the clubroom at the post-match shindig. Oh, hang on, wait, let me check that last bit.........

I'd suggest the likelihood of you being welcomed into one changeroom at the end of a match is pretty high.

[rick boyd]

I'd suggest the likelihood of you being welcomed into one changeroom at the end of a match is pretty high.

Oddly, it is not so. Referees are like journalists -- no matter what you do and no matter what the outcome of the match; both teams think you were too hard on them and too soft on the opposition.