Welcome to
Dorset and Wilts Society of RFU Referees website
Welcome to
Dorset and Wilts Society of RFU Referees website
Chairman’s introduction, 2022-23
After our first full season following covid the society has gone from strength to strength with new members joining and with good attendance at courses for new referees who we will help on their refereeing journey. The 2022-23 season will be upon us in just a few weeks. As ever at this time of year there are 7’s tournaments and clubs will be preparing for the new season with pre season friendlies. which will also give referees a chance to referree before the start of the season.
I’ve no doubt, more friendlies will be appearing on the calendar in the next week or so.
Also, as you’ll all be aware there were changes to the laws last season and more to come for the forthcoming season, we will endevour to keep you up to date but please try to attend the excellent training sessions run by Stewart especially pre season at North Dorset on 21st August 2022.
Please help our appointers, by putting in your availability to Whos the Ref early.
From last season we have lost a number of referees through work commitments away from the two Counties, but invariably as the world goes round some new faces will be coming in to join us. All will be most welcome.
I hope you all enjoy your refereeing this season and the Coaches & Developers keep warm & dry on the touchlines.
Many thanks for all of your time
Denis Nolan
Chairman D&WSRFUR
Society Feed
2022/23 Pre Season Training Day 21st August at North Dorset Rugby Club 1000 – 1500 hrs
The society pre season training day will take place at Millfield School Somerset BA16 0YD on Sunday 18th Aug timings 1000 - 1600 hrs. This will be a dual event with Somerset Society the following events will be taking place: Guest Speaker Professional Game Referee...
World Rugby confirms scrum law amendment
Reaffirming its commitment to evidence-based injury-reduction in the sport, World Rugby has announced details of a minor amendment to the scrum law, reducing the ‘axial’ or rotational load on front row players on engagement. The amendment to Law 19.10b...
CHAIRMAN
Denis started playing rugby at Swanage and Wareham, with their Colts team at the time age 15, had great fun and a number of them made the D&W Colts side only losing one game out of 8 in two seasons. He then moved in to the senior Swans side till 1980, when he left the area and moved to London. In London he played for Askeans RFC. and Various midweek Police teams and finished playing at Vigo RFC in Kent a really friendly village club. He started refereeing in Berkshire in 1994 as he had just moved there and it was about the right age to consider stop playing. Unfortunately due to knee problems he gave up reffing in 2003 so started assessing for Sussex and held the role of Exchange Secretary, introducing the L9 & L10 exchanges with D&W which are still going today. Denis is the chairman of the Dorset and Wilts Refs Society committee.
Damian started playing rugby at school as a full back come center. He had a break from playing between 1987 and 1990 when he started playing hooker for his unit side. He stopped playing in 1996 due to concussion. He started refereeing in 2006 having taken the National Foundation in Aldershot via the Army having always wanted to do it when he stopped playing.
He joined the Dorset and Wilts Refs Society committee during the 2013/14 season. The fixtures secretary of the time was standing down, so just volunteered. A couple of seasons later Damian started doing re-appointing along with a number of other willing volunteers, then for the 2016/17 season took on the appointments) and the Who’s the ref administrator roles
Damian is an avid Leicester Tigers fan, mainly due to former school pupil being Dusty Hare.
