Matthew Carley, a 19-year-old from Deal in Kent, has today (Thursday) become the first ever student undergraduate to be offered a Rugby Referee Scholarship.
Carley will begin his studies in September 2004 at the University of Gloucestershire.
The scholarship is to be included as part of the university’s Sports Science degree course and this venture comes about as a result of collaboration between the university, the Rugby Football Union and the Gloucester & District Referees Society.
Carley will receive a tailor-made programme to meet academic and training requirements, along with sports science support and development. Additionally, as a member of the Gloucester & District Referees’ Society and the Gloucestershire Federation, he will receive regular appointments to officiate matches and opportunities to work with professional staff such as IRB and Zurich Premiership referee Chris White.
“I am absolutely delighted to have been given this opportunity,” said Carley, who became interested in refereeing at the age of 15 when he played for his local side Canterbury. “Ideally I would like to become a full time, professional referee and this course will give me the pathway I need.
“It is also very exiting to be the first ever person in the country to take this scholarship and although I think there will be a great deal of work and pressure I am very much looking forward to it.”
Andy Melrose, the RFU’s rugby referee development officer for the South West, said: “We all see this as an exciting opportunity to promote refereeing in a new way as well as forging closer links with the game in general. The Sports Science degree course will offer a great deal of appropriate knowledge to the students on the refereeing scholarship.”
Director of Sport at the University of Gloucestershire, Peter Durham, said: “We are delighted to offer this exciting new Scholarship in association and partnership with the RFU and the Gloucester and District Referees Society.
“It must be placed on record our extreme thanks to Andy Melrose, premiership referee Chris White and Gloucester and District Referees Society officials Clive Annetts and Alan White for their invaluable commitment, advice and guidance in assisting to bring this Scholarship to fruition."
Chairman of Gloucester Referees Society, Clive Annetts, added: “The Society was pleased to be able to accept the invitation to take part in this initiative, which presents an invaluable opportunity to promote and reinforce a positive image of refereeing locally and in a wider context. We are grateful to Peter Durham for making this possible.”
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