Please see the following warning from our Chair of Discipline -
DORSET & WILTS. RUGBY
FOOTBALL UNION
Hon Treasurer
|
County President
|
Hon Secretary
|
John Palmer
|
John Constable
Date: 1 November 2016
|
Nick
Dark
18
Killbrock Mead
Willowbrook
DEVIZES,
Wilts.
SN10
2FU
|
To: All Club
Chairman and Secretaries
for circulation
to everyone in their club
Dear
All,
Re Referee Abuse
Over half of the cases heard by the
disciplinary panel already this season have involved referee abuse, coming not
only from players on the pitch but also from coaches and spectators on the
touchline. I am sure you will all agree
that this is wholly unacceptable in any event. Moreover the knock-on effect of this abuse is
a shortage of referees. We ourselves are
aware of two very good referees who have decided not to continue officiating in
light of the abuse they have received on a Saturday afternoon. I am sure the Referees’ Society will tell us
there are more instances of referees leaving the game because of abuse.
We appreciate that referees are not perfect;
if you do have concerns there are appropriate channels to use. But swearing at the referee on the pitch, or
from the touch line, is not acceptable. We
would all do well to remember the old adage: “No referee, no game” - a state
none of us wants.
We are asking referees to submit reports,
whether the abuse comes from a player or from the touchline, and at any level, senior
or junior. A player may be charged under
Regulation 19 and anyone, including the club as a whole, can be charged under
Rule 5.12 of the RFU Regulations.
There are significant sanctions available. Players may be banned for weeks or even
months. In the case from abuse from
supporters, even where clubs have taken action themselves, further sanctions
may be imposed across the whole club.
Equally,
we have asked referees to highlight acts of good sportsmanship and positive
crowds, so clubs that are implementing the Core Values are recognised as well. But referee abuse must stop.
You
are welcome to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about this warning. Please address any disciplinary questions and
correspondence to dwrfudiciplinarysecretary@gmail.com.
Kind
regards
Philip Kennedy
Chair of Discipline |
Dorset & Wilts. RFU Limited : a
registered society under the
Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, no: 30484R |
