The Match Officials Strategy Group has been formed by the RFL as part of its drive to increase the number of Rugby League Match Officials and improve standards across the community game.

The Group which consists of representatives from both the professional and community game including Robert Hicks and Stuart Cummings is chaired by the RFL’s Director of Participation, David Gent and held its inaugural meeting recently.

David Gent said: “The RFL has formed this group to address issues with Match Officials across the whole game. It will be a consultation group with a wide variety of people feeding into it.

“We hope to achieve a community Match Officials system led by the RFL in partnership with others that supports the Match Official, Player, Coach and the whole sport.”

“We want to increase participation in Rugby League through quality Match Officials, increase the number of Match Officials operating in the community game and ensure that they are all qualified to a level appropriate for their role.

“It’s also important that all qualified Match Officials are active and that the profile of the Match Official is raised to ensure that they are valued and their importance is recognised.

“Ideas which were discussed in the first meeting included appointing a head of Match Officials for the community game and putting together an appointments panel to ensure consistency and co-ordination across the sport.

“We also discussed the possibility of producing licences for qualified Match Officials which would also provide Match Officials with benefits.”

Being a qualified Match Official can open a lot of doors and provides some great opportunities to remain involved in Rugby League and stay fit while earning money at the same time.
 
There are opportunities for Match Officials at all levels of the sport and everyone is catered for, so if you only want to referee on Sunday morning or Wednesday afternoon, that’s fine.
 
Alternatively if you want to progress to officiating at the highest level of the sport there are also pathways in place to help you advance.
 
For more information about becoming a Rugby League Match Official visit: http://www.therfl.co.uk/referee