We trust that you have had a peaceful Christmas break, as we look forward to the resumption of the community game on the 4th of January there are a couple of quick announcements have come through from the RFU laws team.
The first is confirmation that the global law trials announced by World Rugby will come into force on the 1st July. These law trials have been shared widely on social media [“play on at uncontested not straight”, adjustment to shot clocks and protection for the scrum half] so to emphasise, these will not be in force during the ongoing season. (This is consistent with previous precedents and more information about implementation will be shared ahead of the 25/26 season)
The impact of this clarification is likely to be minimal on the community game, but please note the piece around players loitering/obstructing in front of kickers, as we do occasionally see players adopt these positions “accidentlly on purpose”.
As we get going again, please remember to keep the SELL principles at the heart of all your refereeing and the domestic law variation’s (tackle height) role in ensuring the safety of all participants.
Thanks to everyone who attended the meeting on Wednesday. There were a few pieces to follow up on/share afterwards.
The first was to re-share the tackle height and law changes updates from the RFU, we have also shared the safeguarding/headcase refresher, for which we ask all match officials to complete if they have not already done so, below.
The annual dinner will be on Friday 25th April 2025. Booking details will be shared with members via email.
The next meeting will be on the 1st October. We will present the society accounts ahead of this meeting.
Safeguarding, Laws Test and Headcase
As we get ready to kick off our pre-season – we ask that all of our match officials and match official developers complete the following two RFU e-learning courses and World Rugby Laws test ahead of the season.
Please register for both RFU courses through GMS and check out – they are free of charge. You will then receive an email with a link to the course. Please check your junk/spam filter as they may be redirected. If you are unable to access your GMS account then please get in touch with myself or Ben W
The courses are best conducted on a desktop or laptop/tablet and require sound. They all run through a web browser such as Firefox or Chrome.
Once you have completed the Headcase course and Laws Test, please download your PDF certificates and share them with myself and Ben W through cudrrstraining@gmail.com and Cudrrssec@gmail.com
1. Headcase
This has been overhauled significantly by the RFU in the off season and now takes around 30-40 minutes. There is also the option to take part in a survey to feed into a current study being conducted by one of the RFU team members.
Registration for the Headcase course is via GMS and then you will be sent a link to the course.
All referee training across England is run at a national level by the RFU to ensure consistency in delivery and content. There are two “flavours” of course aimed at those who are new to refereeing.
The England Rugby Introduction to Refereeing course provides development and learning around refereeing Rugby Union safely and effectively. In this six-hour course, you will learn the basics of how to referee a number of elements of the game and how to communicate effectively with players, coaches and volunteers, to ensure that everyone involved is playing in a safe and enjoyable environment.
With three hours online learning and three hours face-to-face learning, this blended approach allows you to learn from the comfort of your own home whilst being able to put into practice your refereeing skills on the face-to-face session.
On Sunday the 8th September, there will be an Introduction to Refereeing course at Ely RFC (13.30-16.30). This free, one-day course (plus online learning) is a perfect first step on your refereeing journey. You must register in advance via GMS –
If you want to host a ItR at your club, then these courses can be run ad hoc. For more details please contact our training officer (cudrrstraining@gmail.com)
England Rugby Refereeing Award (ERRA)
The England Rugby Refereeing award is our Level 2 qualification and is our competency-based qualification providing the knowledge, skills, and attributes to referee young players and adults safely and effectively. Covering all aspects of the game, the course considers how we can simplify refereeing by using “processes”, how we can communicate our decisions effectively and how we can ultimately be safe in everything we do.
The format of the course involves two face-to face days, with a number of webinars and networking sessions between. The England Rugby Refereeing award looks to develop candidates in a practical based environment, providing blended learning to suit you and your time.
ERRA is organised by the local RFU training team. In 2024 the local courses are:
A: Unfortunately the venue that has been used in previous years is unavailable and a suitable alternative was not found. We are working with RFU to try and remedy this going into next year.
England Rugby Referee Award courses for 2023/24 are open for booking this is the recommended course for those who wish to referee regularly.
Courses are across 2 contact days at the start and end of the season, the idea being is that candidates are actively refereeing in the middle and supported with online learning. You are able to referee after day 1 and CUDRRS will support you on your journey! (NB – Please note the BSE courses are midweek during the school half term)
We are working to provide the Introduction to Refereeing courses (one evening starter for those who may referee occasionally) in the area – watch this space.
Thank you to everyone who attended our pre season sessions. A bit of an info dump (apologies) – all of the key videos in the main presentation are contained in the whistle stop videos, with explaination from the match official team.Please find attached links to key RFU resources for referees ahead of the new season. These are all available from the RFU, along with more information, through the Tackle Height Hub. https://www.englandrugby.com/participation/playing/tackle-heightAll referees must be familiar and comfortable with the Domestic Law Variation. As such we request that all referees watch the “Whistle Stop” Videos prepared by the match official development team. These have a lot of video clips and talk through them. These videos are also good for coaches and supporters wishing to understand the messages being given to referees.Whistle-Stop videos
For those who prefer to read, there is a more in depth PDF with links to videos – Law Application GuidelinesFinally, for our referees, the sanction framework, which all match officials should be familiar with and accompanies Video 4 Tackle Height Sanction Framework Informational posters for clubs can be found on the tackle hub and through these links:
CUDRRS invite all referees, coaches, players and interested members of the rugby family to attend one of our two parallel sessions where we will present the RFU guidance to our referees ahead of the 2023/2024 season. These sessions take place as follows:
Tuesday 8th August 2023 7.30 pm at Shelford RFC
Sunday 20th August at 2.00 pmat Ely RFC
Before each session we will run a fitness test (Bronco test) for referees who wish to complete one.
These two sessions are running in parallel and there is no need to attend both, however you may attend both if you wish.
Following the fitness test, there will be a presentation from the training officer, going through slides and videos prepared by RFU, in their role as a tackle height champion. There will be group discussion as part of the presentation.
We are also happy to visit clubs seperately to present to teams and coaches if there is interest.Should you wish for the training officer to attend your club please register interest here: https://forms.gle/pBJwwxnuc1hxEXaD8
We look forward to seeing you all on the 8th or 20th.
We are now rapidly approaching the start of the 2023 season and as a result there are a number of things we need to consider to enable us to hit the ground running for the 2023/24 season. First up, there are a couple of things for our officials and clubs to do behind the scenes before the season starts. As always, please reach out to the management group should you have any questions.
Pre-Season Tasks for Match Officials
Check all your contact details on whos the ref and update your availability for August, September and beyond!
Please update all of your club and team contacts on Whos the Ref.
Please ensure that the appointments secretary is aware of any pre-season fixtures you are hosting so that we can appoint match officials. (cudrrsappoints@gmail.com)
Share information around the tackle height training sessions below with your club members.
Domestic Law Variation (Tackle Height)
As you will all be aware, the RFU have introduced a domestic law variations, the effect of which is lowering the threshold at which a high tackle is adjudged from the shoulders (or armpit for age grade), down to the sternum. This came into effect on July 1st and applies to all rugby under RFU jursidiction below the RFU championship in the mens game, and Premier 15s in the womens game. In terms of the changes to the laws of the game, there is only one law affected. However, quite understandably there has been a significant amount of discourse around this change. As a result, we want to work with our referees and clubs to ensure that we all understand the implications of the DLV.
Tackle Height Training for Match Officials:
For referees we are running two pre-season sessions, on Tuesday 8th August at 7.30 pm (venue tbc) and on Sunday 20th August at 2.00 pm (Ely RFC).
We would like all CUDRRS referees to attend one of these sessions and strongly encourage any club referees who are refereeing within their club or school to come along.
Working with our Clubs:
To enable us to do this we have worked with the RFU to nominate a number of “Tackle Champions” who have been provided with resources to help support members of the rugby community. These members of the society are available to help clubs, and we are keen on coming along to training nights to build up a mutual understandng of what players and officials will be doing to adapt to this change.
To allow us to plan and work together, we would appreciate if all club/team contacts who would like us to come along and assist are able to fill out a quick survey – https://forms.gle/pBJwwxnuc1hxEXaD8
We hope to see some of you on Sunday 21st at Shelford RFC where we plan to run an afternoon training session for our referees. All interested parties (e.g. coaches/DoRs) are welcome to join, the indoor programme starts at 3 pm. Please see a rough agenda below:
2.00 pm – 2.15 pm Welcome 2.15 pm – 2.45 pm Fitness Testing 2.45 pm – 3.00 pm Break 3.00 pm – 4.00 pm Law Trials and Application Guidelines 4.00 pm – 4.30 pm Society Updates 4.30 pm – Close
For those running the fitness test (Bronco), please come in appropriate kit (access to changing rooms is not guaranteed). For those who are not running the fitness test, then you are welcome to join a little later, please be around in time for a prompt 3 pm start for the indoor bits!
We are hoping to set up a Zoom link and recording for those who can’t make it on the day.
Our first regular meeting is scheduled for September 6th where we will discuss Age Grade Rugby and Den has kindly offered to talk briefly regarding safeguarding. Our understanding is that Paul will also be coming along to this meeting, so please contact him with any kit requirements ahead of the new season.
All referees should have completed the online Introduction to Safeguarding. THis is an online module and can be completed in your own time.
All referees who are yet to complete the course should do so at their earliest convenience. To access the course please follow the steps outlined below:
If you have issues accessing GMS then please get in touch
Go to Find a Rugby Course
From the drop down box tick – VIRTUAL
Then remove post code
Then hit search
Choose the Introduction to Safeguarding
Follow the instructions
It should be free, you may land on a page with something that looks like the below, click on the highlighted shopping trolley to add to card and check out.
Once you have checked out, you will recieve a link to the online course. The RFU estimates the course will take 30-45 minutes.
Please familiarise yourself with the clarification and pay particular note to the final paragraph: “In principle, in a try scoring situation, if the action is deemed to be a dive forward for a try, then it should be permitted. If a player is deemed to have left the ground to avoid a tackle; or to jump, or hurdle a potential tackler, then this is dangerous play and should be sanctioned accordingly.”
In addition, the RFU have confirmed that the 50:22 and Goal Line Drop-Out are not to be enforced in Sevens rugby.
April/May Availability
We appreciate this season has been tricky, so thank you for all your support.
Please add your availability for April and May to WtR. There will be 8 Cuppers semi-finals on 30th April with finals the following weekend, so a busy end to the season, culminating with the Shelford 7s on Saturday 21st May. Please contact Charles directly on cudrrsappoints@gmail.com for the Shelford 7s (also indicating which times you can attend) as well as making yourself available on WtR.
No April Meeting
In keeping with practices in recent years there is no April meeting. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the dinner and then will hold our AGM in May. Details will be shared nearer in due course. We will also try to organise an online get together in early May for any referees who are refereeing at the Shelford 7s.
Cambridge University and District Rugby Referee Society 
