New Zealand referees to help out local refs

Tuesday, 29 October 2024 02:20 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees (SLSRFR) will be hosting four officials from New Zealand representing the Bay of Plenty rugby union, with the blessing of the New Zealand Rugby Board, who will be in Sri Lanka for three weeks starting 1 November.

The development program training Sri Lankan referees will also host a few sessions with clubs and Tier 1 school coaches in preparation for the upcoming Club Rugby League and Knockouts. A seminar for match commissioners, citing officers, and judicial officers will also be held.

Director General of Sports Dr. Shemal Fernando had given the green light for this program, with New Zealand High Commissioner to Sri Lanka David Pine also showing his willingness to participate in the programs lined up.

The three-member educator and referee panel, namely Educator and Lead Referee Sam Fellows, Referee Sam Thompson, and Referee Sean Curragh, will be in Sri Lanka to provide vital knowledge to referees in the country.

Sam Fellows, a Level-2 Referee, is a former member of the Auckland rugby union, Waikato rugby union, and Southern California rugby union (USA) and has 21 years of referee experience under his belt. His notable achievements include refereeing at the Bay of Plenty Premier final, working on a national level at the Heartland and Farah Palmer Cup games, and refereeing at the Coral Coast Sevens in Fiji, to name a few. In addition to his referee experience, he also boasts 10 years’ experience as a coach.

Sam Thompson was a member of the Poverty Bay, Manawatu, and Horowhenua-Kapiti rugby unions and is currently affiliated with the Bay of Plenty rugby union. He too possesses over 18 years of refereeing experience and was also ranked number one in the Horowhenua-Kāpiti rugby union from 2018 to 2023. He also has officiated in 3x Premier finals and 2x Hurricanes Zone College Boys finals to name a few.

Sean Curragh, from the Bay of Plenty union, comes in with seven years of experience and has refereed the Bay of Plenty Premier Development final, has attended the World School Festival in Thailand in 2023, and has been an AR for the National NPC games.

The program is led by Krishan Ambawatte, a Sri Lankan currently residing in New Zealand.

-(SJ)