Expenses
The Society pays referee expenses twice a season, once in December for all fixtures up to 30 November, and once in May at the end of the season. This means that from 1st December if you wish to, you can claim expenses from the first half of the season up to and including 30 November.
If you are new to the Society, or haven’t claimed for a while, there is a new tutorial video on how to process your claim, which can be found here and is also permanently available on the Video Tutorial Page. If you prefer your instructions in written form, click here to read the useful guide and here to read the guide on exchange fixtures for out-of-area matches
Match timekeeping
In response to several issues of confusion that have arisen recently, please see reproduced below the wording on match timekeeping from World Rugby law 5 (age grade variations will of course apply)
- A match lasts no longer than 80 minutes (split into two halves, each of not more than 40 minutes plus time lost), unless the match organiser has authorised the playing of extra-time in a drawn match within a knock-out competition.
- Half-time consists of an interval not exceeding 15 minutes as decided by the match organiser. During this time, the teams and match officials may leave the playing enclosure.
- In non-international matches, the match organiser may decide to reduce the length of a match. If the match organiser does not decide, the teams agree on the length of a match. If they cannot agree, the referee decides.
- Games should last a minimum of 40 minutes, but can be split into equal halves, quarters or thirds.
- The referee keeps the time but may delegate the duty to either or both assistant referees and/or an official time-keeper, in which case the referee signals to them any stoppage. In matches without an official time-keeper, if the referee is in doubt as to the correct time, the referee consults either or both the assistant referees and may consult others but only if the assistant referees cannot help.
- The referee may stop play and allow time for:
- Player injury for up to one minute. If a player is seriously injured, the referee has the discretion to allow more than one minute for that player to be removed from the playing area.
- Consultation with other officials.
- Once the ball is already dead, the referee may allow time for:
- Replacement of players.
- Replacing or repairing players’ clothing.
- Re-tying a boot-lace.
- Retrieving the ball.