Derbyshire based match official Luke Fellows will this weekend take charge of his first game in the Carnegie Challenge Cup with a first round fixture.

Luke will referee the fixture between Oldham St Annes and Hull Dockers, although a far cry from the 80,000 crowd that watch the final at Wembley, the aura and history of the competition makes this a tremendous honour for both Luke and the region.

“To officiate in one of the oldest sporting competitions in the world is an honour for any match official. I am looking forward to the occasion” said Luke about the appointment.Luke, 23, is a member of the South Yorkshire and East Midlands refereeing society and began refereeing in 2004.

He applied his trade in the community game before been offered the opportunity to step onto the National Conference League panel in 2007.

Since then Luke has been a regular on the National Conference League and also Rugby League Conference National, where he refereed last year’s semi-final between Bramley Buffaloes and Warrington Wizards and has also taken control of the National Youth League Final. 

Danny McNeice, the region’s Match Officials Development officer said, “I must offer congratulations to Luke on such a prestigious appointment. This has come at the start of what will hopefully be a good year for Midlands based officials.

”In addition to Luke’s appointment, Warwickshire based Touch Judge Peter Parker made his Challenge Cup debut at Loughborough University’s defeat of Featherstone Lions in the preliminary round.

Parker joins a growing list of other Midlands based officials who have officiated up to the fourth round of the competition in recent years.“It’s no fluke that they have received these appointments, it is down to the hours of hard work, training and travelling that they put in every week” continued McNeice.

Luke Fellows’ game will take place on Saturday 22nd January at Oldham St Annes with a 1:30 kick off.