intouch with South African Referees Edition 2, 2010 www.sareferees.co.za alliancephoto.com Ground-breaking referee camp a roaring success The Western Province Rugby Referees’ the whistle, attendees ate meals and Salmans, a National Panel and WP referee Society, in association with Western relaxed together, building a camaraderie who was an instructor during the camp. Province and the South African Rugby between the budding officials. ‘I said to the senior boys [Grades 11 and Union, recently hosted the first-ever 12] that I believe one if not two of them specialised referee camp specifically Ben Theron, WP’s Referee Manager, can actually break through and became targeted at schoolgoers in South Africa. was the man behind the course. ‘The top referees.’ feedback has been so positive,’ he said. n the June school holidays 140 scholars ‘Everybody enjoyed it and I think if you Nathan Barry, a member of the Iattended the first-ever scholar-specific speak to some of the kids they realised WPRRS and a matric learner at Florida referee camps to be held in South that refereeing isn’t that easy. Most of High School in Ravensmead, did the Africa. Hosted by the Western Province them said they are never going to criticise course. ‘It’s very nice to build up some Rugby Referees’ Society (WPRRS) at Jan referees again!’ experience,’ he said. ‘I’m into my second Kriel School in Kuilsrivier, Cape Town, year of refereeing so it’s great to work attendees spent three days and two nights Dan de Villiers, chairman of the WPRRS, with guys my own age and tell them what learning about what it takes to become a said, ‘In Western Province and all over I have learnt. It’s about participating and referee. The same course was held twice South Africa we need to do this, and passing on knowledge.’ over the space of a week to make the best we’re proud to be the pioneers. We’re very use of the facilities provided. privileged to have a guy like Ben Theron Ben Theron extends thanks to Joey Salmans, and his team to do this and we endorse it Jason Jaftha, JC Fortuin, Wimpie Allandale, Wendy On-field instruction, positioning, the wholeheartedly. It is very important de Kock, Francois Veldsman and everyone else who contributed to the camp, and to sponsors complete IRB Referees’ and Assistant all over South Africa to get youngsters Discovery, Wild Juices, Coca Cola, Spur, Willem Referees’ Level One course, and lectures to referee.’ Nel from Epping Market, Eco Wize for their by top match officials on what it means R10 000 donation, and André Watson from SARU. to be a referee today were all covered over ‘It’s a super initiative, driven by Ben, and A similar camp is being planned for the March school holidays next year. the three days. Apart from learning about it’s been great being involved,’ said Joey The right Coaches Lions man for agrees intensify the job on Law recruitment applications campaign Craig Joubert Craig Joubert Paddy’s Patch Paddy’s In this issue... pg 4 pg 9 pg 10 SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY REFEREE SOCIETY NEWSLETTER 1 NEWSLETTER OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION www.sareferees.co.za What’s on my mind? By André Watson National Panel referees trailer – the ball carrier must recently met with Currie be in the lead position and accessible to the opposition Cup coaches to workshop • Players leaving the maul must various aspects of how rejoin through the gate games are to be handled • A player on the wrong side of the for the second half of maul is not illegal if he is caught in that position or bound to the the domestic season. player with the ball These activities are important ways of opening Quick taps, line-outs and offsides communication channels • Defenders preventing the quick tap, not retiring 10m and between referees, players interfering must be penalised and coaches, and can • Preventing the quick line-out by be adapted to work at throwing the ball away must be provincial level between penalised • Players in front of the kicker who the referee society and advance must be penalised club coaches. • If the ball is kicked and it ensure we blow the Laws of appears as if it is going out of the the Game. Outcomes from the workshop included: field of play, attackers who were in front of the kicker may not In other developments, Currie Cup Tackles, rucks and mauls advance until the touch judge/AR coaches have been invited to submit a • The tackler has numerous has raised his flag to indicate the ranking of referees during the season. responsibilities and needs to ball is out These submissions will be taken into release the tackled player, roll • Defenders who deliberately account when match officials are away if he is off his feet and be change their running lines to appointed for the business end of the standing on both feet if he wants obstruct the chaser and protect a competition – the semis and final. to play the ball team mate who is attempting to • The same conditions apply to catch a ball must be penalised Also, coaches and referees are the arriving players: the first encouraged to improve their one on his feet has the right of Scrums communication before and after possession • The referee’s engagement calls games. However, we do caution that it • The call ‘ruck’ will only be made must be followed is not good practice to hold a post- once, and players must comply to • All players to push in a straight match evaluation immediately after the relevant Laws from that point line parallel to the touch lines; no the game in the change room, while • No collapsing of the maul will be angle pushing emotions are probably still high. allowed • Binding by all forwards as per the • At the formation of the maul the Law Book Referees are constantly in the news, ball carrier cannot be sealed off • Front-row players who all too often for the wrong reasons. from the opposition consistently do not bind on Each and every one of us who pick • Defenders and attackers not their opposite number must be up a whistle need to ensure that we bound to the maul – pillar – penalised carry out the job to the very best of must be behind the last person’s our ability, whether it be at Test level hindmost foot It’s interesting to note that there’s or for the local primary school. We • If a pod of players break off and nothing new in these pointers. We should always strive to be the best we continue to maul – truck and just need to stick to the basics and can be. 2 www.sareferees.co.za NEWSLETTER OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY REFEREES’ ASSOCIATION A Golden Lion CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE The successful hosting of one in Zimbabwe of the world’s largest sporting events has been a wonderful Referee development officer Michael boost for the global image of Cupido was invited to Zimbabwe South Africa – and also for the personal confidence of each recently on a fact-finding and and every one of us. On behalf observation tour. He says rugby is alive of all rugby referees, I extend our congratulations to all who and well in that country. were involved in making the Soccer World Cup a success. On a side note, though, I am glad that our Test referees do not experience the verbal abuse and on-field intimidation tactics that our soccer colleagues had to endure! Once again, this newsletter highlights the many activities and achievements involving South African referees. On the recruitment front, Western Province hosted two school referee camps during the extended midyear holidays. These were a resounding success, with 143 boys and girls attending. The Golden Lions have also been active and are planning their first Golf Day to raise funds for referee Getty/Gallo Images development. With these kinds of activities our numbers Rugby in Zimbabwe can only benefit from the assistance offered by their South will soon begin to rise. African counterparts. BokSmart continues to gain traction as more and more ‘Is there hunger for the game? Most definitely!’ This is the referees across the country become certified. We need to considered opinion of Michael Cupido, Golden Lions referee lead the charge in this initiative and encourage all those we development officer, who was invited to visit Zimbabwe in come across to get accredited – remember, from 2011 you June, in the name of referee education. will not be allowed to referee or coach without BokSmart accreditation. Michael said this hunger for rugby in Zimbabwe was most evident at the Cottcco Rugby Festival, hosted at Prince On a broader scale, we take our development role seriously Edward High School in Harare. ‘This tournament has been and initiatives like Michael Cupido’s fact-finding mission sponsored for several years by Cottcco. Even when the to Zimbabwe are important to help raise the standard of economy was in a bad state, this tournament was and refereeing throughout the continent. still is played every year. One hundred and fifty-seven schools participated during the week, making it the The success of any organisation is totally dependent on the biggest school tournament in Africa and one of the people involved, and I am proud to be at the helm of an biggest in the southern hemisphere.’ association that includes the likes of Paul Dobson. This is a man who has given selflessly to referees spanning several Michael also attended the first Independent School Festival generations and who has been involved in helping develop in Bulawayo.