HOW TO BECOME A REFEREE

Referees are crucial to rugby – after all, you can’t have a game without one – and here’s what the four home unions offer to help wannabe officials…

The RFU has two courses for those wanting to referee. There’s a three-hour one for those interested in refereeing the U8 to U13 age groups (£15) and a two-day course for those wanting to referee at

U14 level and above (£75). Find out more at englandrugby.com/my-rugby/referees/

In Ireland, the provinces run day-long courses for referee recruits for free, with the aim that those taking part can commit to at least 15 games a season. See irishrugby.ie/referees/becoming_a_ referee.php for details of your local referee development officer to find out when the next courses are.

Scottish Rugby runs three officiating courses – National Level 1 Refereeing, National Assistant Referee and Club Touch Judge. All are free to attend and you can get more info at scottishrugby. org/domestic-rugby/match-officials

It’s £30 to do the WRU’s one-day Level 1 refereeing course. Once you have that licence you can look to move up the ranks with Level 2 and Level 3 (invitation only) courses. Check out wru.wales/eng/ referees/courses for more details.