Southern Section Awards Night
6th June 2008 held in Sundays Well RFC

Awards

Olan Trevor
Olan has recently advised of his decision to retire from active refereeing at the conclusion of the current season. For over ten years Olan has made the most outstanding contribution to Irish refereeing in Domestic Rugby, in Europe and further afield including representing Ireland at the Churchill Cup.

"I would like all who helped me over the years, too many to mentions. It has been a wonderful fifteen years with the M A R & I R F U referring panels With great highs and very few lows. It’s the next best thing to playing by staying involved on a Saturday or Sunday, especially, training, staying fit and of course having a few Pints after your match. I will be staying involved next year doing a little coaching and may be the odd TMO job. 

Again many thanks to everyone,

Olan Trevor."

Ultan O'Callaghan Provincial Development Manager
Ultan recently addressed the MAR.  The thrust of his talk covered the relationship between the professional and amateur games in Munster and how they depend upon each other.  He also spoke on how the Irish Sports Council provides funding for Munster domestic rugby.  Provision of this funding, in turn, means that the Branch is bound by certain statutory requirements, including the need to provide statistics on participation levels in the province.  Non-compliance with such requirements will affect funding levels. 

This is why it is essential that team sheets are returned to the Branch after every game.

He also stressed the "two-way street" approach, and asked that referees become even more proactive in providing feedback to the Branch, via the MAR, as to how the domestic game can be improved, either on or off the field.

N.B. - Youth Regulations '08 - Full Document Click here

Dangerous Tackles
Owen Doyle, Director of Refereeing, IRFU, has sent out a reminder to all referees that we "must be very vigilant and firm in relation to players tackled in the air, high tackles, and the 'spear tackle'. Offending players must, at least, be penalised and spoken to/ reprimanded and further sanctions are available depending on the exact nature of the offence."

Summary of North/South Munster Sending off and Disciplinary Process
1. North/South Munster Jurisdiction – Report should be made to Branch Delegate of sent off player’s club's section: Eamonn Tobin North / Gene Ryan South

2. Report to Gene or Eamonn between 7pm & 9pm on Sunday night following the game.

3. Sending off form must be in appropriate Branch office by midday on the Monday – deliver by hand, fax or email. This is essential to provide sufficient notice for a hearing to be convened for the Wednesday.

4. Signed original to follow in the post.

5. Reports should be as clear and concise as possible to assist the disciplinary committee in their deliberations.

6. New IRB regulations mean that the referee may be invited to attend the hearing, but any and all questions will come through the chairman. There will be no direct verbal contact between referee and player.

Please note - abuse by officials/spectators should be reported to John Burnett using the Abuse reporting form.

Team Sheets
A. referees should not start matches unless they are in possession of two teamsheets, complete with player registration numbers. No teamsheet, no game. This is a Munster Branch directive.

B. it is essential that team sheets are returned to the Branch after a game. There are several reasons for this, including:

1. The team sheet is the only official record of the match result.

2. The teamsheet is the sole point of reference, in cases of dispute over player eligibility.

3. The IRFU is collecting statistics on player involvement at all levels.

None of the above is possible if the sheets are missing.

Freepost envelopes are provided for this purpose. However, if caught short we should use any envelope and address it "IRFU Munster Branch, FREEPOST, Musgrave Park, Ballyphehane, Cork" and it will get there.