This article is targetted at team coaches, managers and club/school administrators - Referees should all be across this information also.

In this article:

• Requesting a referee
• Changes to a match (time, venue, cancellation etc)
• Law updates
• Connecting with local referees
• Referee Appointments
• Hosting requirements
• Feedback

REQUESTING A REFEREE

If you are planning a game or multiple fixtures in Bay of Plenty which are not part of a BOPRU competition, chances are you'll need a referee. The ONLY way to sort this is via BOPRU, and the correct form (explained below). Even if you've chatted to a registered referee and they're happy to do the game, the request must still come through for them to be appointed. You can include a note to say you've lined up a particular to help guide appointments, if you wish.

Before anything, visit boprugby.co.nz/referee-request which outlines everything you need to know. There is no charge for one-off or singular fixtures within the Community Rugby Season (March to September) unless ARs are also required. There are costs associated with Tournaments or other large events in which multiple fixtures are played, no matter the time of the year.

There are also strict timeframes. Requests which miss the deadline are almost always declined.

• One-off game (even if it is a couple of games) - these are the majority of preseason and traditional games - complete the New Fixture Notification form
• Multiple games in a competition across weeks (e.g. Rosebowl, Super 8, Fatty Nuku, Banner) email fixtures@boprugby.co.nz with the complete details of the competition's draw. Note - the T&C's and timeframes for a standard fixture request will still apply
• Tournament (single or consecutive days, typically for Sevens/Tens/shortened XV-side) - Complete the Tournament Referee Request form.

CHANGES TO A FIXTURE

ANY change to a game, no matter how late, MUST ALWAYS be notified via the Fixture Details Change Notification form. If it is a very late change, it is best to call or email someone at the Union IN ADDITION to the form - an email or call on its own will never suffice.

Please notify changes at the earliest possible moment, as these changes always have a flow-on affect upon referee appointments and other fixtures. There can be serious sanctions imposed upon teams which fail to notify changes correctly.

LAW UPDATES

There are not nearly as many changes this season as 2022, but there are some significant ones!

Keep up to date with this year's law changes, trials and experiments and clarifications. View this article, and check out our Law page for other law info. While you're there, why not sit the law exam? It is free for anyone to access and sit, and provides an instant snapshot of your law knowledge, plus correct answers for you to learn from!

CONNECTING WITH LOCAL REFEREES

Late 2022 we started a "pod" initiative within our referees group, which split the club into sub-groups which were loosely geographically based, to support each other and connect with local clubs and schools.

This season, we want to get the momentum for that rolling! If you haven't already been in touch with a local referee, contact our volunteer Clubs & Schools Liaison Manager Sean Moore who can connect you with a nearby pod and those referees can support you as you prepare for, and get into the season. 

REFEREE APPOINTMENTS

Our volunteer Referee Appointments Board and Junior Appointments Coordinators work tirelessly throughout the season to appoint to games, and have the "best fit" referee to service it. It is easily the most demanding and thankless, yet critical role within our Referees Club.

Despite having the best referee appointment rates from Under-11 to Premier Men in the country, from time to time, there are games which cannot be serviced with a referee. If this occurs, our Referee Administrator Evan Booker will do his best to contact the affected clubs/schools (above JAB) the day prior to inform them, but, this is not always possible, so please do not rely on this.

You can head to our Referee Appointments page for draws, info, and contact details for all of our appointers. If a referee is confirmed for your game, their name and role [Referee] will appear below your fixture. If no name is listed, then no one has been confirmed for your game. Our competition rules and laws dictate how to then decide who referees the game in the absence of a registered referee.

HOSTING REQUIREMENTS

There are clear, specific, compulsory requirements set in which ALL full-field rugby in the Bay is required to comply with before a game starts - no exceptions. These include but not limited to:

• Crowd control barriers (ropes) on BOTH touch lines
• Technical zones set up on the same side of the field
• A designated "event manager" for every match
• Team lists provided prior to kickoff

Full detail of the above, and other requirements are detailed in the BOPRU Competition Rules. These apply even to non-competition games. Please take these seriously - they are little things, but have BIG results when it comes to the safety, wellbeing and enjoyment of ALL participants of the game!

FEEDBACK

The good, the bad and the ugly, we want and need to hear it all when it comes to our Match Officials!  Absolutely thank and pass positive comments on directly to our Match Officials who have just given up their time for you! For comments that aren't of this nature, bottle them. The ONLY acceptable channel is via BOPRU for the "bad and the ugly".

IT IS **NEVER** OK TO APPROACH A MATCH OFFICIAL AND CRITISE THEM OR THEIR DECISIONS. EVER.

Be cautious also when questioning or seeking clarification. It is best to wait until the game has concluded, everyone has cooled off, and some time has passed - at an aftermatch function for example. If you still want to ask a clarifying question after all this, do so in a respectful and constructive manner. In short, if you have nothing nice to say to the referee, just thank them for the game and move on. They did just volunteer their time for you, after all.

The BEST way to seek clarification or provide feedback is via our Match Officials Feedback Form. We'll ensure the right message gets to the right people for the right outcomes in the right way, as a result of this.

Premier & Super 8 Coaches - Feedback for your competition games can go to our Premier Referee Feedback form - preferably on a weekly basis!

Article added: Thursday 16 February 2023