Rugby Referees Express Alarm Over Abuse Leading to Departures and Game Abandonment

Officials in rugby union have voiced that they are “highly concerned” regarding the increasing number of individuals withdrawing from the sport because of mistreatment directed at match officials. The Durham County Rugby Football Union Referee’s Society (DCRURS) reported that three referees have already ceased officiating this season, attributing their departure to “criticism from players, club officials and spectators”. Mark Harrington, a referee, stated that young match officials represent the “future of rugby and we cannot afford to lose them”. The Durham County Rugby Football Union (RFU) affirmed its commitment to taking reports of abuse “extremely seriously”. Mr. Harrington, who serves as the chair of the DCRURS, commented that referees “shouldn’t have to deal” with such ill-treatment. He clarified that the abuse had not involved physical contact, though some referees had experienced confrontational approaches. Mr. Harrington disclosed, “There has been one game where the referee has abandoned the game because he felt unsafe.” He added, “If we can nip it in the bud now, hopefully we can stop it getting any worse.” The DCRURS dispatched a letter to the Durham County RFU, an organization representing 33 clubs within the region. The letter outlined four separate incidents of abuse occurring in senior matches and three in junior matches. It indicated that referees would face difficulties officiating games this season and cautioned that the society might be left “with no option” but to permit matches to proceed without an official. The Durham County RFU stated that it possesses “fair, yet robust disciplinary procedures in place and takes match official abuse extremely seriously”. A spokesperson confirmed that every case is handled individually, adhering to established regulations. The RFU also mentioned that it had distributed the letter to all affiliated clubs. For updates from BBC North East, follow on X, Facebook, Nextdoor, and Instagram. Story ideas can be submitted to northeastandcumbria@bbc.co.uk. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.