Somerset have had 8 members of the society support Region 1 rugby this season. 6 have been regulars all season with Ben Pomeroy & Spencer Pearce both being asked to assist after referees have become unavailable throughout the season. After Dan Evans moved up to Scotland in the summer, Chris Hoadley became the only referee to be on the group.
The other members have assisted referees from the touchline as either a performance reviewer (also known as a referee advisor) or a referee coach. Bruce Marshall, Martin Bath & Neil Daniel have all been coaches within the level 5 pods which are made up of multiple referees with a couple of coaches between them. Chris Murphy & Jason Wallis have enjoyed time as performance reviewers.
We asked the members to answer a few questions about their time on Regional 1 (R1) this season which the key stepping stone from societies & federations before moving on the National League Match Official Team. To learn more head to the RFRU website by clicking here.
Martin Bath
How many years have you been in your current role on R1? This is my 2nd full season as a coach who looks after 3 referees at the R1 level, but I also look after 1 referee at Society level too.
What is your favourite game this season? It has to be Marlborough against St Austell, a real gritty encounter, where the referee put in a very strong performance.
What is the best advise you would give to a new referee? Treat your next game as the most important game of the season and enjoy the experience.
What is the best advise you would give someone that is looking to become a coach once retired from refereeing? Be prepared to actively listen as well as speaking and be open to the views of others. Be supportive of the person you are coaching/reviewing. Use open questioning techniques in the post-match de-brief or video review.
What else had assisted within rugby that has helped you get to this level? I was previously a panel referee and have been a Performance Reveiwer for the Somerset Society for several seasons. I have been the Chairman of my local rugby club, Avonvale RFC, for the past 16 years.
Neil Daniel
How many years have you been in your current role on R1? This is my first year as a R1 coach for our pod of 4 Level 5 referees. As a coach within this SW pod I attend matches that the refs under our “umbrella” are officiating and provide a constructed evaluation (not as the PR does I.e. weather & pitch conditions!!), but actual coaching work-ons, both positive & negative so giving constructive advice….You know, that box at the end of the PR report that you used to go straight to” Referees potential”. Along with attending games most Saturday’s, I watch the Veo’s from my refereeing pods games & we hold regular Teams meetings to discuss queries from the 4 refs within the Pod.
What is your favourite game this season? Lots of games this season have been excellent this season; it is very difficult to pin point a specific match really.
What is the best advise you would give to a new referee? Best advice for me in being a referee (as a coach) is to appreciate what the players of both sides want to achieve (whatever level) and manage this within the laws of the game consistency and with empathy.
What is the best advise you would give someone that is looking to become a coach once retired from refereeing? To be a referee coach you need to have the experience to match the comments you pass across. Plus, you need a lot of patience, lots of it, this is down to many reasons not just the referee!
What else had assisted within rugby that has helped you get to this level? As someone who has been around a little as a player, coach & referee this has helped me understand what is required. This season I have helped Brian, society Match Official Development Officer, as much as possible while I have dipped in & out of the Somerset Referees & R1 which I will continue to do next season, this helps all involved.
Chris Hoadley
How many years have you been in your current role on R1? The 2025-2026 season will be my 4th year at L5 as a referee, but I also support the society by mentoring others. My role includes supporting Wessex Ladies.
What is your favourite game this season? It is hard to say, the most enjoyable are the close ones where any team could win.
What is the best advise you would give to a new referee? I would have to say that you should listen to your coach/mentor throughout the journey, don’t try to change everything at once.
What is the best advise you would give someone that is looking to become a coach once retired from refereeing? Again, listen to the coaches around you. Start with mentoring someone, then go from there
What else had assisted within rugby that has helped you get to this level? I captained my local side for a few years as well as taking on committee positions with them. I was a member of the RFU disciplinary team too, which helps me with my role as disciplinary officer with SRRS.
Bruce Marshall
How many years have you been in your current role on R1? I have been working as part of the referee coaches team at level 5 for ten years, three of those since the change of name to regional 1 & seven with the South West Group.
What is your favourite game this season? This season it was Somerset Game Burnham on Sea 2nd team & Tor 2nd team, David Brooks was in the middle. The game was played in a friendly manner everyone respected the referee. Great day out.
What is the best advise you would give to a new referee? The best piece advise is to enjoy every game. I have only seen one new referee this year which is a shame.
What is the best advise you would give someone that is looking to become a coach once retired from refereeing? Just remember to enjoy the game in front of you, but consider what you say to your referee.
What else had assisted within rugby that has helped you get to this level? It doesn’t matter what level you refereed. In your new role be kind. Think about what you want to say.
Chris Murphy
How many years have you been in your current role on R1? I have been Advising with SRRS for 18 seasons and with R1 / SWG since 2017 as a performance reviwer. There have been north of 420 matches covered across those 18 years.
What is your favourite game this season? I have no one favourite match. The most challenging games have been ones where referees have been forced to resolve issues on the hoof or where they may have come up short. The most enjoyable matches have been those where really enthusiastic responses from referees have been obvious. Those referees will utilise input from an observer to address weaknesses in their game.
What is the best advise you would give to a new referee at R1? Adapt rapidly to what they see in front of them. It is of vital importance that they will also need to be honest and good with self analysis – with the coaches and performance reviewers they work with.
What is the best advise you would give someone that is looking to become a performance reviewer once retired from refereeing? To gain more experience by working with someone already operating regularly at the target level and to integrate any new knowledge into their own methods, and then come back for more.
What else had assisted within rugby that has helped you get to this level? I would have to say for them to attend RFU courses or sessions online such as Develop the Developer and also when invited, take the opportunity to attend their specialist sessions for coaches and PRs (either online or face to face).
Spencer Pearce
How long have you been in involved with R1? I haven’t been a referee on R1 for even 1 month, I have had one L5 league game which gave me a real buzz.
What is your favourite game this season? It has to be the Devon Cup Final between Barnstaple & Sidmouth, two Level 5 teams at the top of their game on a sunny day with plenty of advise from the touchlines. It was an honour to be given the game by the society.
What is the best advise you would give to a new referee? Relax & enjoy every moment along the journey, because when success comes it feels even sweeter.
What else had assisted within rugby that has helped you get to this level? Getting to know different people along the way, this could be at any tournament or just someone who happens to be watching your game. I have gotten to know people who are now part of the PGMOT, Irish Professional referees & Scottish National Panel; they have helped me immensely.
Ben Pomeroy
How many years have you been in your current role on R1? This is my first season to get the opportunity to referee at Level 5.
What is your favourite game this season? Exmouth Vs St Austell, it was a nice competitive game in the sunshine. It was great to have this as 1 of my six games at Regional 1.
What is the best advise you would give to a new referee? Refereeing is more about knowing not to blow the whistle as much as it is blowing the whistle. Letting the game flow is one of the most important things, it allows the players to play and you ultimately get the best view in the house!
What else had assisted within rugby that has helped you get to this level? This is my 8th season of refereeing. I started when I was 14 years old & the society has helped me grow since then.
Jason Wallis
How many years have you been in your current role on R1? This is my first full season on R1 as a performance reviewer after shadowing a few games last season.
What is your favourite game this season? For me it has to be Barnstaple against Marlborough.
What is the best advise you would give to a new referee? Don’t worry too much about the law and play what you see.
What is the best advise you would give someone that is looking to become a performance reviewer once retired from refereeing? Get the referee to see any development points and give them options to fix rather than tell. Always look to learn from others and grow as a person or referee, we are not always right and listening is hard if you are talking.
What else had assisted within rugby that has helped you get to this level? I am a RFU educator who deliveries the courses and I also coach my local side. All these have helped me understand the game more.
