The news section enables us to give you insight into the world of refereeing in Wales.
With news articles on who are next stars of the whistle are and those yearly law amendments!
You find all you need here.
If you have an interesting news story about refereeing you would like to share please contact jevans@wru.wales
New Rugby Union Laws for Community Games in Wales (Effective August 1st)
Rugby union in Wales is set for some key changes as new laws come into effect from August 1st for community-level games. These updates, introduced by World Rugby and adopted by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), aim to improve player safety, speed up the game, and enhance overall enjoyment for players and spectators.
Here’s a breakdown of the major changes:
Rationale: To protect the 9 and enable more ball in flow from the scrum.
Watch the tutorial video below that gives examples of what is legal and not and the appropriate sanctions are applied.
She may be at the beginning of her fledgling refereeing career, but already Amber Stamp is being hailed as an inspiration to others and has been tipped to become Wales’s first female international referee.
WRU Community Match Officials Development Lead Sean Brickell has high hopes of his protégé after seeing her make rapid strides since taking up the whistle as a 17-year-old after successfully completing a female only Ready to Ref course five years ago.
“Amber has the potential to be our first female international referee,” predicts Brickell.
“She has all the attributes required to reach the top of her game. Hardworking, motivated and the drive to succeed in what she wants to achieve. Although Amber is very ambitious, she’s a very grounded, respectful young lady, who fully appreciates all those who have supported her on her journey.
“Both Amber and Jenny Davies have raised the bar with female officiating in Wales, and they have shown what’s achievable with patience and hard work. Hopefully they will inspire more females to take up the whistle.”
Brickell added: “We have a small but dedicated group of female match officials who support the community game. Sarah Toll, Ceri Parry and Fiona Davies are now experienced referees, while recent additions are Coral McShane, Macey Philips, Bethan MacLauchlin and ex Wales internationals Jess Kavanagh and Amy Thompson.”
WRU Educator Programme
The Welsh Rugby Union Community Rugby Department perceives the development and support of volunteers in Wales as vital to enable the game to thrive.
The WRU offers a wide and varied suite of formal, informal and digital educational opportunities, across all sections of our rugby department and are currently supported by a dedicated workforce.
For the WRU to continually be at the forefront of development it is looking to recruit, develop and deploy more Educators within the game.
What is a WRU Educator?
A WRU Educator develops people who make our game safer and better. They support and develop new and existing coaches, officials, medics, and administrators that help to increase participation and retention and enhance the player experience.
As a WRU Educator you will educate learners within their domain. For example those who want to become a referee would attend a level 1 referee course and you would assist in the delivery of the course, although you can educate in more than one domain.
Which are as follows: –
You will also enter in to WRU Educator development programme that requires each person to commit to
Completion of the core modules (you will have achieved WRU Educator status this will remain with you for 2 years.)
To remain accredited, you must deliver 2 courses a year in your domain across the suite of educational courses.
You also must show that you are committed to personal development and participate in Continual Educator Development – This can be via CED opportunities such as workshops, or educator communities of practice.
Complete the domain specific orientation training.
All domains have the same orientation training the only difference is the content you deliver. You will be expected to shadow the course, learn the presentations, and co deliver before your deployment can begin.
You will also have assigned a Trainer who will support you in your personal development and you will be expected to keep a documented personal educator plan
On completion of the WRU educator core modules and domain orientation you will be issued with new starter forms to enable you to get remunerated for your services.
Process of becoming an Educator
If you are interest to become a Welsh Rugby Union Educator, and you have reviewed the role specification, which gives an insight into the skills, behaviours, knowledge, understanding and qualifications required. Then contact the Referees Department –
Ben Breakspear’s refereeing journey is a testament to dedication, resilience, and passion for the sport of rugby. Hailing from Abercynon , Breakspear began his refereeing career at a young age, quickly rising through the ranks due to his keen understanding of the game and his ability to maintain control on the field. His calm demeanor and consistent decision-making earned him respect from players, coaches, and fellow officials alike. Breakspear’s talent saw him officiate in prestigious competitions, including the URC, where he became known for his professionalism and fairness. Despite facing challenges and intense scrutiny that come with high-level refereeing, Breakspear remained committed to his craft, continually refining his skills and contributing to the growth of the sport. His journey serves as an inspiration to aspiring referees, showcasing the importance of hard work, integrity, and a love for the game.