The end of the regular season is upon us and this bulletin looks to celebrate the success we’ve seen in 2023/24, along with updates from the Society.
Celebrating a Successful Season
A Heartfelt Thank You
First and foremost, we extend our deepest gratitude to every member who donned a shirt and officiated for the Society this season. Your dedication and willingness to be available to referee across the North Midlands region have been invaluable. We couldn’t achieve this without your tireless efforts.
Season Stats for 2023/24
Now, let’s dive into the statistics for the 2023/24 season. (All data is sourced from WTR):
| Referees | Assessors / Reviewers | |
| Weekday Appointments | 394 | 2 |
| Saturday Appointments | 711 | 210 |
| Sunday Appointments | 617 | 12 |
| Total | 1,722 | 224 |
Across the 2023/24 season we had the following number of active referees:.
| Total # of Active Refs | 133 |
| Total # of Refs >5 Games | 65 |
| Total # of Refs 2-5 Games | 27 |
| Total # of Refs 1 Game or less | 41 |
Our Top 5 MVP’s
Top 5 Referee MVP’s in terms of games across all fixtures are:
| Rank | Referee | Games Refereed |
| =1 | Huw | 62 |
| =1 | Phil M | 62 |
| 3 | Callum | 61 |
| 4 | David Su | 58 |
| 5 | Kevin P | 53 |
Broken down into fixtures across Midweek, Saturday & Sunday:
| Midweek | Sat | Sun | ||||||
| Rank | Referee | Games | Rank | Referee | Games | Rank | Referee | Games |
| 1 | Phil M | 57 | 1 | Vince | 25 | 1 | Callum | 33 |
| 2 | Kevin P | 37 | =2 | Patricia | 24 | 2 | Jon H | 30 |
| 3 | Daniel Y | 18 | =2 | Spencer | 24 | 3 | Huw | 26 |
| 4 | Neil G | 16 | =4 | Alex N | 23 | =4 | Michael C | 25 |
| 5 | David Su | 14 | =4 | David Su | 23 | =4 | Robert D | 25 |
New Members
This season we have welcomed 41 new members with varying success across appointments, as follows:
| Refereed | |
| 5+ Games | 8 |
| 1-3 Games | 9 |
| 0 Games | 24 |
For all new referees who have officiated at least 1 game we provide kit, please drop me an email below and I can send details of the process.
AGM – Save the Date
Annual General Meeting Announcement
The AGM is scheduled for August 4th, 2024 at Old Hales Rugby club from 10am to 3pm. This meeting is a crucial opportunity for members to discuss the progress of the Society, review financial statements, and elect new board members. Your participation is highly valued.
An agenda will be published closer to the date, but key topics for discussion will include:
AGM Formal Notice: Official notice will be issued prior to the meeting.
Society Progression: Introduction of a new structure to foster growth within the Society.
Training on New Laws: Updates and training sessions on the latest laws.
Fitness Test: A fitness test for all attendees (optional)
Additional Information
Refreshments: Tea and coffee will be available upon arrival and throughout the day, along with a buffet-style lunch.
Branded Polo Shirts: We plan to offer branded polo shirts for all attendees. To ensure we order the correct sizes, please fill out the form below if you plan to attend.
We look forward to your participation and to another successful season ahead!
England Rugby Match Official Update
Please click on this link to read the Match Official Update from the RFU, covering topics such as news, MOA abuse and other items of interest
Celebrating our Members
On behalf of the Society, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Olly Robertson for being accepted as an associated member at Level 5 for the next season. This achievement is a testament to Olly’s hard work and development throughout the season.
We also want to give a special mention to everyone who has supported Olly in his journey, including watchers, developers, and fellow referees. Your contributions have been invaluable.
In addition to Olly’s promotion, we are thrilled to announce that many of our referees have progressed within the Society across all levels. Congratulations to each of you for your commitment and dedication to officiating for North Mids. We also extend our gratitude to all the volunteers who have devoted their time to help us improve and develop. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Other News
In the upcoming bulletin, we aim to address two primary points:
- New Laws/Law Amendments: We will furnish an update on the new laws being introduced across the game, as well as any amendments received from the RFU.
- Society Progression Update: Over the past season, the board has meticulously reviewed our setup, policies, and structure, exploring both new and existing avenues for improvement and advancement as a society. In the next bulletin, we will delve into further detail regarding these developments in anticipation of the official launch at the AGM in August.
Summer Rugby
To conclude this bulletin, we have a final note regarding Summer Rugby.
As we head into the summer months, we anticipate a flurry of games such as friendlies and sevens tournaments, all seeking referees. These assignments will be managed through WTR, so please ensure your availability is updated accordingly. The only deviation from our usual process is regarding expenses. These must be arranged and handled directly with the clubs, as they will not be processed through WTR.
Furthermore, in addition to fixtures listed on WTR, you may also encounter requests posted on our social media channels. In such cases, please coordinate expenses directly with the event organizer