Ref Rob wants new buzz

TOP Super League official Robert Hicks claims leaving full-time refereeing is like going cold turkey.

But now the 40-year-old is determined to experience just as big a high by steering rugby league into a strong and healthy future.

Hicks (above) has taken over as the RFL’s Director of Operations and Legal.

He said: “It is a bit like weaning yourself off a drug. Refereeing at that level is all-consuming.

“I won’t miss that part but I will miss the adrenaline rush, the banter and the emotional roller-coaster that you go on throughout the year.”

Hicks is involved in a range of top-level discussions. High on his list is France’s decision to make Covid jabs mandatory for sports stars.

That has raised the fear clubs could have to leave behind unvaccinated players for their fixtures away against Catalans and Toulouse.

But Hicks is convinced the matter can be resolved and the Super League will start on time on February 10.

He added: “It is a very fast moving position with France, but we expect some decision in the next week or so.

“We are in discussions with both the French clubs and the French

Federation and with their government.

“We will get to the right place with France. It helps us that the Six Nations rugby union starts at the same time as we do and that Champions League football is also involved in talks.

“We certainly plan to start the season on time.”

By the end of December, 81 per cent of Super League and Championship players had been double-vaccinated.

Hicks said: “The blunt reality is that we need as many players vaccinated as possible, not just for rugby league but for themselves, everyone else and to reduce the strain on the NHS.

“The amount of people in hospital, and in intensive care, who are not boosted or double-vaccinated is quite significant.”