With the league season starting again on Saturday we would like to announce the members which the training team have decided to be part of the societies development squad. SRRS Development Squad is managed by former International Referee, Tony Spreadbury, & current Scottish National referee, Dan Evans, who started his refereeing with SRRS as a YMO. The members of the squad are carefully selected & all have a high potential to reach L6 or beyond. Each referee is given a coach & will have the ability to have their games reviewed by the squad managers. The squad meets on a monthly basis, either in person or online, to discuss different areas of their game in greater detail to aid the development of the officials. Each member is honoured to represent the society at some of the bigger games of the season & is encouraged to assist in the development of other society referees.
This season the honour of being selected goes to Ben Branson, Rhys Cleary, Ed Eades, Lee Jackson, Simon Jones, Alex Priddle, Simon Reeves & Will Whyte. Spencer Pearce & Ben Pomeroy who will be refereeing regional 1 rugby will also be part of the squad on a support basis. Below you will see a section on each of the members involved.
Ben Branson – I started refereeing to help out with junior rugby, as my children were playing at their club. I found it was something that I enjoyed and as part of the legacy of RWC 2015 the IRB (now World Rugby) funded my refereeing course, so I jumped at that opportunity. 10 years later, and in my 8th season with Somerset, I’m still refereeing and enjoying facilitating a decent game of rugby between 30 players most weekends and a number of midweek games too. SRRS have been excellent in supporting my development and helping to ensure consistency with other referees.
Rhys Cleary – After starting refereeing in 2020, following a lifetime of playing since the age of seven, Rhys now officiates in & around Level 6 and is aiming to progress to Regional 1 in the future. Refereeing has not only sharpened his knowledge of the game but also become his biggest motivator to stay fit, with his training now centred around the demands of officiating. A standout highlight so far has been refereeing at the LA7s tournament, and his annual trip to Grenada. Now, through the Development Squad, Rhys is eager to progress further by developing skills such as self-review and peer learning. He credits his coach, Nick, as being a major influence: “He’s been brilliant at drilling into the areas I need to work on and showing me how to better those skills.” Rhys describes the selection for the squad as a great honour to be recognised for both my ability and my dedication to refereeing.
Ed Eades – I started refereeing in Cornwall in 2016 as a way to stay involved in the game and joined SRRS when I started Bath Uni in 2017. Refereeing with Somerset has provided me with great experiences that wouldn’t have otherwise been possible including officiating at the Rec and having a team perform the haka prior to a game I refereed. I’ve been part of the development squad since 2022 and thanks to the high level insight and collaborative approach, I consider it the biggest factor in my progression to L6.
Lee Jackson – I started refereeing for the Somerset society in 2019. I’d just turned 50 and wanted to combine my enjoyment of rugby with staying fit and active. I thought my age might limit my advancement but I’ve grown in confidence and hopefully ability and have loved the challenge of progressing to level 7 games.
Simon Jones – My first season as a referee with Somerset Society was unfortunately curtailed by Covid, however since then I have undertaken lots of games each season working my way through different types of games at different levels, as well as refereeing some 7s and beach rugby, both of which have supported me grow as referee as it allows for a different type of fast pasted learning. I am keen to learn to enhance my refereeing to enable me to take on more challenging games; I am hoping that the development squad will fine tune my game to enable me to progress.
Alex Priddle – I started refereeing in 2012 in Essex (London Society) before I moved to Bath but had to stop for a few years due to open heart surgery. Refereeing was my motivation to improve my fitness following the operation. I found it challenging to move up the grades for the first 4 years until the society started its coaching program and that was the catalyst to improve my performances and enable me to be promoted to L8. I have subsequently been promoted to L6 which was the goal I had set myself when I started with Somerset. I can only thank the Society for the support they have shown me and the collaboration and advice I have had from my coaches, without them I wouldn’t not have achieved my goals.
Simon Reeves – My initial foray into refereeing was when I was 21, but that did not continue and it wasn’t until I was coaching Mini rugby and took the old Level 1 course and then when they reached U12s, undertook the ERRA in 2016; they suggested i joined my local society, Somerset, in early 2017. Moving through the levels with the society and also with the Royal Navy Referees I have had the privilege of officiating, whether as a referee, Assistant Referee or Number 4 at differing levels including cup finals, Combined Services at Kingsholm (3 times now) and even got to referee at the ‘Cabbage Patch’ during the Army v Navy game (it was the kids rugby before the match and at Half-Time but it all counts). I was requested to assist in the ACE league this season and await the change of level that brings as College / school / university rugby is probably the best time I have as a referee as the coaching, playing and respect levels are extremely high plus the game is usually fast and open (my type of game). Joining the committee to add some younger blood a couple of years ago, I have now been running the Academy (new Refs) for 3 seasons now and then took on the Chair of Grading in 2024, another privilege that allows me to closely follow the development of our referees coming through. Next steps as the years push on is to move into coaching and advising but maintaining my presence in the middle for as long as my body holds out. It is always great going back down the levels to referee as the players are still out there to enjoy themselves and epitomise the spirit of rugby.
Will Whyte – I completed my RFU referee qualification in 2008 whilst studying at Bath University. After leaving University I became a PE teacher at Dauntsey’s where I refereed age grade rugby for 13+ years. After encouragement from colleagues and visiting members of SRRS, I joined Somerset Rugby Referees Society in 2021. Having played rugby at school and university, I love the game and the values and ethos it promotes. As a referee, I enjoy challenging myself and giving back to the game I enjoyed so much as a player. I am currently L8 and have been involved with the development group since joining the society. The society have been very supportive, providing me with opportunities around my work commitments. The mentoring, support and training have been superb. I have loved being involved with the society.
Congratulations to the members of the 2025/26 development squad on their selection.
