The new season is nearly upon us.....
The new season is nearly upon us after a hectic pre-season August
- we welcome Camborne – Launceston – Bracknell – Salisbury and especially Bromsgrove to the SW Level 5 league and hope they enjoy their season!
- We have a panel of 12 referees to start the season with – Kevin Williams / JAMES MILLINER (Cornwall) – Ben Chadwick / Zerren Bell / BEN RUSSELL (Devon) – Richard Timbrell / RICHARD WALLER (Bristol) – Charlie Gayther (Glos) – Adam Wookey / IAIN KIY (D / Wilts) – Scott Galbraith (Oxon) – OWEN VENABLES (Bucks) – the newcomers are in capitals
- There is also a group of 12 referees who it is hoped will develop and progress during the season and will be in contention for L5 appointments at some time during the season – this group have been given a Manager / Mentor (PADDY DUMMETT) – which has been received enthusiastically by the referees and it is hoped this will help develop their progress and act as a liaison to the Group
- The MO squad remains the same with A Swift (D/Wilts) and T Bowers (Bristol) being monitored in the early part of the season – Peter Lewis a member for many years has retired from the Group – his experience and knowledge will be greatly missed
- The coaches panel have S Lane / D Rose (Devon) – B Marshall (Somerset) – G O’Hara (D/Wilts) joining although A Harris has retired
- The selection for the National panel has been changed and is an ongoing system through the whole season – Ben Russell has been nominated to be part of the process from the SW – although it is hoped / expected that additional members will be nominated during the season
- After the success of the AR process last season (3 promotions) – it will be carried on again with Trevor Hunter in charge – we have D Philpot (Devon) and D Allen (D/W) carrying on from last season and are looking for additional members – most of the work /appointments are done mid week / Sundays so that their commitment to Society Saturday appointments should not be affected – please let me know of interested people asap please
- It has been announced by the RFU that the following leagues – Ladies premier – BUCS – premier Academy – National 2 league – have been upgraded due to various reasons so that SWG appointments to these competitions as a member of the T3 will be paid a fee – contract details will go to the referees in due course
- Nominations by the federations for the L7/8/9 – MO/Coaches / ARs seminars have been received and further details will be sent to the selected nominees in due course
- The following seminars have been booked – L7/8/9 at Avonmouth RFC on October 16 – AR day at Bristol GS U18 competition on October 22 – MO/ Coach coherence day at Taunton RFC on November 26