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We asked current members, as well as a few former members who started their refereeing career with us, to answer a few questions about their time with the National League Match Official Team or beyond.
Paul Box
What roles do currently have outside of those with SRRS?
What advise would you give a new referee?
Why did you choice to go into being a timekeeper & 4th official? What advise would you give those looking at that route?
What is the best game you have been part of this season & why?
What has supported you in the process to getting where you are?
Clare Daniels
What roles do currently have outside of those with SRRS? I have been a match official for 26 years now with varying different on-field & off-field roles in both the 7s & 15-a-side game. Within the last 5 I have taken up roles as a Match Official Coach within the PGMOT, but I am also lucky enough to be a performance reviewer & selector for World Rugby in the Women’s 15-a-side team.
What advise would you give a new referee? Enjoy the journey and be a sponge.
Why did you choice to go into off field roles? What advise would you give those looking at that route? I still referee locally when I can, but it’s vital that we encourage good people to transition into other match official support roles both on and off the pitch. It opens up another lens from which to view the game and officiating which often prolongs your involvement in the game we love.
What is the best game you have been part of this season & why? Cambridge v Oxford Ladies 2nds Varsity game at Grange Road (Cambridge) – I refereed the first team Varsity about 25 years ago. I was chatting with my ARs about it the first team game 25 years ago and one of the assistant referee said: “I wasn’t even born then!”
What has supported you in the process to getting where you are? There have been many wonderful people who’ve supported me on my journey, and it all started with SRRS. The evolvement of referee coaches over the years has been very beneficial, opening my mind to be responsible for my own development is a great example. I’ve learnt from people who remain inquisitive about performance development and to never stop learning.
Lloyd Davies
What roles do currently have outside of those with SRRS? Since I joined SRRS 9 seasons ago, I have been part of the NLMOT group since the 2019-20 season. I am primarily a referee in the National 2 West pod. Over the past few seasons, I have had a handful of appointments as an AR in National One. This season I have also been fortunate enough to be 4th Official at Gloucester vs Exeter Chiefs at Kingsholm, then an AR in the reverse fixture at Sandy Park, both in the Premiership Cup. I first started refereeing when I started teaching PE in 2012. I was inspired by my dad, Haydn Davies, who refereed to a high level for the WRU when I was growing up.
What advise would you give a new referee? Always remember who you meet or cross paths with on your way up, because you’re likely to meet them on the way back down again.
What is the best game you have been part of this season & why? To be involved in the Premiership Cup in different MO roles was an awesome experience both times. However, refereeing in the middle is still my preferred role, so for me this season, the 2 best games I have refereed in are for different reasons; Camborne vs Loughborough in January was a free flowing end to end game that had 8 PKs all match. A cracking spectacle that tested my fitness for sure! The other game I have enjoyed was on exchange to National 2 North; a relegation battle between Billingham vs Sheffield Tigers, where the home side won 31-28. A genuinely hard fought contest that tested my management skills of two teams who didn’t know me at all and left it all out on the pitch.
What has supported you in the process to getting where you are? I owe several members of SRRS a huge amount of thanks for where I am today. Reg Lewis was my first Referee Coach for 2 seasons and was phenomenal in supporting me in those early days. Bruce Marshall was always available to talk to when I got onto the South West Group (level 5 back then). Likewise, Chris Murphy has been very supportive and was always willing to listen to anything I needed to ask. I’m only sorry that I haven’t been more present for the Society in recent seasons due to my work, family and NLMOT commitments.
Pete Dixon
What roles do currently have outside of those with SRRS? My main role is an assistant referee with the National League Match Official Team, but I have also acted as 4th official on the odd occasion.
What advise would you give a new referee? Enjoy what you do and remember your there to help facilitate 30+ to enjoy their afternoon.
Why did you choice to become an assistant referee? What advise would you give those looking at that route? I went down the assistant referee route to continue my development in the game. I got to L6 refereeing & enjoyed being an assistant referee.
What is the best game you have been part of this season & why? Two games come to mind which are Hartpury Uni versus Cardiff Met in the BUCS semi final & Clifton against Camborne which was 1st versus 2nd in Nat 2 West.
What has supported you in the process to getting where you are? I started with Bristol Referee Society but have worked closely with Somerset Society since I started.
Lindsay Evans
What roles do currently have outside of those with SRRS?
What advise would you give a new referee?
Why did you choice to become a 4th official? What advise would you give those looking at that route?
What is the best game you have been part of this season & why?
What has supported you in the process to getting where you are?
Tom Evans-Jones
What roles do currently have outside of those with SRRS? Having picked up the whistle in 2017, I have been a member of the UK Armed Forces Panel for 5 seasons & I have just completed my third season on the National League Match Official Team. I am a referee with both, but will preform as an assistant referee when required.
What advise would you give a new referee? Feedback is key to success. No referee is perfect, and you can always improve on your last performance but the only way to do so is to reflect honestly on your performance. Never shy away from being watched and view all feedback positively, even if it is highlighting areas of weakness as these are the areas you need to know about to improve.
What is the best game you have been part of this season & why? A few spring to mind, firstly Taunton vs Camborne which was a top of the table clash in N2W. Probably as close to a Nat 1 fixture you’ll get in Nat 2 and the game lived up to it, finishing 38 – 38 in front of a big crowd at Veritas Park. Exeter Uni vs Bath Uni at Sandy Park which was on the BSR livestream. With a couple of thousand rowdy students in the stands it was a great spectacle of fast flowing rugby. Finally, Clifton vs Exeter Uni in N2W which was the final game of the season with Clifton needing a win to secure promotion. Great game in front of large crowd with Exeter Uni contributing to a cracking game of rugby.
What has supported you in the process to getting where you are? I benefitted hugely from the coaching I received from Bruce Marshall and Martin Bath who deserve much of the credit for my progression and I’m hugely grateful to them. Also, Chris Murphy who PR’d me regularly, and Reg Lewis and Wayne Davies who appointed me to the right games for me to progress. Since being on NLMOT I’ve mainly been coached by Ian Woodgate alongside several others. As a member (now Chair) of the Royal Navy referee society I benefitted from lots of extra development opportunities provided by Service rugby that helped accelerate my progression, and additional coaching/feedback from a range of personalities connected to military rugby.
Jonathan Healy
What roles do currently have outside of those with SRRS? I am an assistant referee with both the PGMOT & EPCR. I have been in this role for 10 years having been a referee for the NLMOT & SRRS for 10 years previous to this.
What advise would you give a new referee? Two key pieces of advise are; if you like it, do more of it if you don’t, do less of it. Also, spend time writing down game scenarios and rehearsing options which help you keep play moving when there is a 50/50 decision.
Why did you choice to become an assistant referee? What advise would you give those looking at that route? Unfortunately I stopped progressing as a referee and becoming an assistant referee was a chance to continue having new experiences and the chance of exposure to rugby at a higher level.
What is the best game you have been part of this season & why? Castres Olympique Vs Benetton Treviso, Investec Champions Cup Round of 16. A proper cauldron of a French crowd, and a 39-37 game that was decided by a last minute try – a real mental and physical challenge. Great after match hospitality as well!
What has supported you in the process to getting where you are? I’ve been the beneficiary of a lot of good coaching from Harry Vince at SRRS through to Ian Woodgate on the National Panel and Peter Huckle at PGMOT. Spreaders has never been far away and always unfailingly supportive. Rugby is a great game, and the shared experiences from refereeing forge deep relationships for life.
Alex McDonald
What roles do currently have outside of those with SRRS? 2 years as an NLMOT AR, 7 years as a Level 6 Referee, having been a referee for 14 years – half my life! I am a member of three societies – Somerset (since Sept 2021), Gloucestershire (since 2015), and Warwickshire (since 2011). I joined Somerset in 2021 following my appointment to teach at Monkton Combe School in Bath. I was Head of Business and Economics there for three years, before a promotion saw me move to Malvern College in September 2024.
I became a member of Gloucestershire in September 2015 due to relocating for university, and I retained my Gloucestershire membership when I moved south. I’ve also retained my membership with Warwickshire, although I haven’t refereed for them in some time.
I am currently the Referee Development (Training) Officer for Gloucestershire Society and have previously held the roles of Appointments Secretary and Training Officer there. When I moved back up this way, they convinced me to take the role back on!
What advise would you give a new referee? Enjoy every minute of it. I still get exactly the same buzz as I did in 2011. I remember my first game like it was yesterday.
Why did you choice to become an assistant referee? What advise would you give those looking at that route? I was given an opportunity to join the Rugby Football League (RFL) Professional Leagues as a Touch Judge in League One and a No.4 in the Championship in 2022, and I enjoyed the camaraderie before, during, and after games. I decided I wanted to be an AR to be part of a team on matchday, rather than going out on my own, per se. I still referee as regularly as I possibly can (even if sometimes that means refereeing the Malvern College U14A side – much to their despair at having me again!).
What is the best game you have been part of this season & why? Unfortunately, my job these days doesn’t allow me to officiate as much as I’d like to, but my favourite game this season so far was definitely Hornets vs Luctonians, where I was AR for Tom Evans-Jones (SRRS and NLMOT Referee). It was really nice to revisit Somerset and return to one of the clubs I’ve been fortunate enough to referee and officiate at many times over the years.
What has supported you in the process to getting where you are? This is more Maccer’s words of wisdom than a direct answer, but here we go:
So many people and all three societies have helped me, and I’m hugely grateful to all of them. Instead of forgetting to name someone, I’ll offer this advice to all referees:
Listen to advice – be a sponge! Go and watch others referee. If you’re attending a game, introduce yourself to the ref and collaborate. Talk to the players, engage with social activities, and most importantly, be reflective.
Being over-analytical or overly self-critical isn’t helpful, but being reflective and open to doing things differently is vital. Do not base your refereeing on what you see on TV – even in the National Leagues, we operate very differently from how things are done on the telly.
This season, I’ve been asked more than once why I’d blown for “not straight” at a lineout where there was a non-compete – and I had to remind them that we’re not playing under the same laws as those on the TV!
Remember: the game is about the players. We’re there to facilitate. Smile, communicate well, be consistent – and enjoy every minute of it.
Tony Spreadbury
What roles do currently have outside of those with SRRS?
What advise would you give a new referee?
Why did you choice to go into referee management? What advise would you give those looking at that route?
What is the best game you have been part of this season & why?
What has supported you in the process to getting where you are?
Adam Wookey
What roles do currently have outside of those with SRRS? Currently a referee on the NLMOT but also AR where required. Refereeing for 14 years now and 10 years as a referee on the NLMOT.
What advise would you give a new referee? Refereeing is the hardest but best job but you can only control the controllables. Always work hard on the key areas of the game scrum, lineout., breakdown and the rest will fall into place and leave the refereeing politics to your coaches and just referee to what you can you can’t control the masters of the game and what they appoint you to.
What is the best game you have been part of this season & why? Rams vs Rosslyn park 2000 in the crowd a great day and an enjoyable 49-40 game to referee and to be there for a send off of a life long player in the national leagues is great
What has supported you in the process to getting where you are? Coaches for referees are so important and I have had some great ones in this society and others. Tony spreadbury in Somerset. Chris Bartlett Mike Collis and the late Glenn O’hara from Dorset and wilts but also the support from people in London when I came through getting me to come to bigger tournaments and grow my referee circle
