The Welsh Rugby League are aiming to be represented at Wembley Stadium on Challenge Cup Final day 2009 in more ways than one.

While we all hope that next season will see another strong performance in Celtic Crusaders’ attempts to gain the coveted cup, the Wales Rugby League Match Officials Society (WRLMOS) are also looking to have an influence on the outcome of the Wembley showpiece.

The Carnegie Champion Schools tournament, is Rugby League’s largest knock out competition with over 60 schools sides from Wales competing this year, and the Year Seven boys final is the traditional curtain raiser to the Challenge Cup Final. Wales’ very own Brynteg High School won this particular fixture in 2005 after beating Castleford High at the Millennium Stadium.

While this may well represent the peak of a junior player’s career, this match also represents the pinnacle for seven junior match officials.

Each year the RFL go through a selection process and last year Patrick Wilson aged 17 from Northampton became the first match official outside rugby league’s traditional heartlands to officiate at the event. In only his first year of Refereeing, Patrick climbed through the ranks of some accomplished junior officials to gain selection as touch-judge at Wembley, and now the WRLMOS are looking to make their own impact.

Welsh Rugby League Match Official’s Development Officer Steve Davis said: “Refereeing opens some great opportunities to juniors and this event is just one example. Many of the shining

lights in the junior official’s ranks are also players, who find that refereeing is a great tool to help develop their game. Players will sometimes referee a match o two before their fixture, getting their match eye in early, and find that having a better knowledge of the laws, gives them an advantage whilst playing. Refereeing also teaches great qualities and life skills such as man management, quick judgement and self belief.”

The Welsh Rugby League are holding a Match Officials course over two evenings at the home of Cardiff Demons - St

Peter’s RFC,  Minster Road, Roath, Cardiff CF23 5AS. The course will take place on Monday’s 2nd and 9th June from 6.30 – 9pm and will cover practical and theory elements of being a match official.

Davis added: “These are exciting times for the Rugby League community in Wales, which is no different for match officials. The Welsh Conference Premier is one of the most talented leagues in Britain, the junior league is growing quickly and the introduction of the Crusaders Colts means there is a wide range and level of matches that need referees. The RFL have implemented a good development structure, which means that there is a clear pathway for match officials who wish to move up the ladder and those youngsters who attend the upcoming course could be in with a shout at referring on the big stage come next year.”

The WRLMOS are running this Match Officials’ course free of charge and it is open to seniors and juniors aged 12 and above. To register your interest, please email Officials@CymruRL.com for an application form.

article by Ian Golden
29 May 2008