The world’s best referees
he world’s best rugby referees do not live or work in the U.S. Put another way: None of the U.S. best referees are amongst the world’s bests. In last year’s World Cup, for instance, none of the assigned referees was from the USA Rugby.
Why is that? Doesn’t one get to climb the ladder of Rugby Refereeing to get to the top? Mark Wheeler, USA Rugby Referee Association chairman explains.
10 years of local and territorial union refereeing earned Mark Wheeler the A-Panel designation in 2001 and chairman of the USA Rugby Referees Association. (Photo by SAMokofisi)
As stated in Part I, Mr. Wheeler toiled 10 years to become an A-Panel referee. By then, there were no more "mountains to climb," so he retired. Ten years is a long time, especially in the U.S. where players and referees get into the game so late in life.
Most Americans picked up the game in their late 20s and early 30s. They would play actively for about 10 years into their early 40s. By the time they decide to pick up a whistle, they’re in their mid-40s.
As in Mr. Wheeler’s case, "Ten years later you’re well past 50," he said. "We are looking for much younger referees now."
IRB top referees...
Australia: Andrew Cole, Stuart Dickinsen, Wayne Erickson, Peter Marshall, Scott Young
Continued...
Please sign in to read the rest of this article:
