Referees Covering Three Games A Day

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31662, 24 April 1968, Page 18

Referees Covering Three Games A Day

Some referees have been set down to do three games in one day, said Mr R. H. Bull, when explaining to a meeting of the Canterbury Rugby Union management committee last evening that the referees’ association might have a problem to provide referees for the increased number of teams playing this season.

“We are tying to get new members and we have been reinforced by 11 training college students doing morning games, but there may be a problem providing full coverage,” he said. Mr R. O. McDowell suggested that senior players be asked to referee morning games. “This is done in other centres and works quite satisfactorily," he added. Mr B. J. Drake said that if senior players did help out in morning games, it might be an inducement for them to take up serious refereeing when they retired from Rugby. Mr C. H. McPhail said that it was vital the union did not lose on the great gain in playing membership this season by not having enough referees to control all games. It was decided to advise all clubs of the need for more referees. Exploding Bulbs The rain in recent weeks has caused a problem at the union's lighted training ground. The light bulbs round the ground have been exploding because of rain getting into the bulbs.

Mr D. B. Doake said that the effect of the bulbs when they exploded was quite lethal, and there was the danger of broken glass round the base of the columns. It was decided that advice should be sought from the M.E.D. on the type of bulbs that could be used.