The officials tend to be the people overlooked, until they stand accused of making an ‘obvious’ error.
The fact is, they have been training assiduously, mostly at Faro in Portugal.
The skills they need vary widely. Take for example what the onfield assessment involves: application of the laws; match control; fitness, agility, positioning and work-rate; alertness and awareness; teamwork and use of advantage. Add to them the now vital area of concussion management and my pet topic; communication.
Ah! How do I ensure a non-English speaker understands what I’m saying? World Rugby remains tight-lipped on that matter.
That’s a wide range of demands placed on shoulders.
Away from the match-day a wide gulf open up; so much depends on where you live. In Europe a match may be only 90 minutes’ flight away.
In the Americas or Oceania journeys are far longer and probably less frequent.
This helps to explain why neutrals have not officiated many of the USA/Canada matches.
A recent exception was the up-and-coming star of the whistle world, the Aussie, Ella Goldsmith. She has enjoyed rapid promotion to join the ranks of the elite. (see my list below). From the matches I’ve seen her take, she fully deserves her place.
It is Alhambra Nievas, the World Rugby High Performance Referees Manager, who oversees all. She and her committee have sorted out the merits of the officials appointed.
A reminder of the ten referees who’ll take charge: Aimee Barrett-Theron, Sara Cox, Hollie Davidson, Maggie Cogger-Orr, Lauren Jenner, Aurelie Groizeleau, Clara Munarini, Kat Roche and Ella
Goldsmith.
They are supported by six ARs and six TMOs.
Each in turn has had to make a career decision: do I do this full-time or not? It’s another version of the old amateur/professional dilemma.
Either way, it can be a lonely life, often missing from home or the main job.
That is one reason why the group has spent so much time together recently. They can enjoy teamwork as much as the players, and enjoy it far less often. They discuss and share experiences to everyone’s advantage.
We wish them all the best. “Can’t do without you!”
