By the RFU Referee Department

The “Team of Three” now plays an accepted and integral role in officiating throughout the National Leagues, with the referee working closely with touch judges in managing the game.

Touch judges are appointed by the Panel Development Unit at Castlecroft to matches in National Leagues 1, 2 and 3 (North and South), with the number one touch judge being deemed capable of taking over from the appointed referee during the game, in the event of an injury.

The National Panel of Touch Judges number some 85, all of whom must pass an examination and successfully undertake an annual fitness test before being appointed. Touch judges must, at present, be able to complete a distance of 2,400 metres in under 12 minutes before being deemed fit to officiate.

National Panel Touch Judges are recruited via Federations throughout the country and their developmental needs are addressed primarily by a group of six touch judge coaches. Consistent high level performance is rewarded with appointments to higher level games and, in some cases, to a place on the Elite touch judge squad, through which appointments are made to both Zurich Premiership and European matches.

One of the keys to the successful management of the game is communication, not only between the referee and players, but also between the referee and his/her touch judges. A radio communication system currently operates in National League 1 and, wherever possible, in Leagues 2 and 3. Talking flags are used consistently in National League 2. Both systems allow the touch judges to provide the referee with information appropriate to assist game management.