January 25th, 2006
 
A recruitment drive to attract more women referees into rugby has produced an eight per cent increase in new female match officials across the Midlands.
 
The joint initiative between the Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football Union for Women was launched earlier this season with funding from the RFU's Volunteer toolkit.
 
So far 193 new women referees nationally have completed the Foundation training course and joined their local county Referees' Society. In the Midlands the breakdown of the female newcomers is five in Warwickshire, four in East Midlands and two each in North Midlands and Staffordshire.
 
The new match officials are now gaining experience by taking charge of both men's and women's matches at adult and youth levels. Some of the newcomers are former players themselves, others are new to rugby.
 
"We are delighted with the results," said David Rose, the Rugby Referee Development Officer for the Midlands. "With the RFUW we have had a push at attracting more women into rugby and the response both locally and nationally has been very encouraging."
 
Anyone interested in becoming a rugby referee should contact David Rose on 07702 626266 for their local Referees' Society details.
 
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