In this episode, Keith talks through the announcement from World Rugby following the Council meeting on 14 November which agreed to the introduction of four Global Law Trials for new competitions/leagues after 1 January 2025. References to "previous episodes" relate to Episode 40: Ep 40 - What is going on with laws and law changes at World Rugby? We talk about: Quicker conversions A new set time to form a lineout (in line with 30 seconds at the scrum) Cleaner play away from the ruck/maul/scrum N...
Nov 21, 2024•22 min•Ep. 42
This episode is all about you and something I've created for you. It's the sort of thing that I never knew I needed, but now it's a real, physical thing, Im hoping it helps you and your refereeing. It can be a solitary life as a referee - often travelling on our own to matches, not seeing any advisers/coaches every week, and only monthly meetings with our peers. So how can we help you think positively about your refereeing and your progress? This is where the Journal comes in. This has all the c...
Sep 29, 2024•18 min•Ep. 41
A walk through the law change proposals coming out of World Rugby in recent weeks. What is going on? What will actually change? And when? In today's episode, I will walk through where this law chat has come from, the importance of World Rugby's Shape of the Game meetings and all the elements that are flowing from that event held at the end of February 2024. More information mentioned in the episode: 1) World Rugby press release: Shape of the Game meeting. 29 February 2024 2) WR Press release 2 -...
May 04, 2024•33 min•Ep. 40
Today, I walk through some great tips for all those rugby coaches out there who have to take charge of a match as a referee. Are you a Coach with a Whistle (TM), rather than a rugby referee? Maybe you're a reluctant ref - a volunteer being thrust forward because you had too much to say during a match? Maybe you just didn't avoid eye contact quickly enough when your parents group were asked for help? Or maybe you're just starting to think that you might want to give refereeing a go! Well, firstly...
Sep 27, 2023•18 min•Ep. 39
Today, we're joined by Graeme Bloom - a unique person in the rugby refereeing community. Graeme's a keen supporter of match officials and, despite an MND diagnosis in 2019, he remains committed to staying involved in refereeing our great game. During the conversation we hear about his story and his ambitions to be a referee. We hear a little about his experiences in match officiating so far around the world. We also chat about what he's done since his diagnosis, and what he'd like to be doing wh...
Aug 14, 2023•36 min•Ep. 38
Hi, Keith Lewis from RugbyReferee.net here with a general update on refereeing news! Plenty to chat about from the referees and refereeing world at the moment! In this episode, I walk through: 1) New formal Law clarification - grounding on a thing in in-goal 2) Law issues Loose ball brought to ground is classed as "held/holding" 2012 Clarification "The player is considered to be carrying the ball as the ball is in the air when it is first played" SuperSport discussion : Laws: Scoring from in in-...
Jun 08, 2023•46 min•Ep. 37
Today, I'm joined by New Zealand Rugby's Mike Hester to chat about their law variations for the 2023 rugby season. They include a lower tackle height, a restriction on scrum halves and for the pack as a whole. All three are important for all referees and match officials across Aotearoa. Mike is NZR's Game Participation Manager, and he tells me about: His background as an elite referee - in football! His shift into game participation The shape of New Zealand rugby and the challenges they face The...
Feb 23, 2023•46 min•Ep. 36
It's a Happy New Year to you all! Today, Keith Lewis, founder of RugbyReferee.net and host of the Advantage Over podcast talks through a new World Rugby 2023 Law Application Guideline for 2023. While much of it is targetted at the elite end of the game, the principles within it covers all of rugby no matter what level we're refereeing! So we need to be aware of the drive by World Rugby in these areas. The episode covers the six areas in the new Law Application Guideline (the link here includes s...
Jan 01, 2023•35 min•Ep. 35
Today, it's a solo episode with Keith talking through all the new law changes and amends that have now come into play from 1 July 2022. In summary, Keith talks about All the Global Law Trials from last season which move into full law Two new GLTs – scrum brake foot, and restrictions on medics/water carriers Some minor wording where there have had to be a formal clarifications in law in recent years Minor amends following Union, player and match officials feedback Updated TMO protocol ( download ...
Jul 03, 2022•34 min•Ep. 34
Today, we're joined by Tim Wyatt, a Sport and Exercise Psychologist (in training) to chat about... well.. sport and psychology! Especially for us as rugby referees. We chatted about identifying your own values for refereeing, and then how we prep for a game, cope during the game, and finally the importance of reflection. The article to go with this can be found at: https://rugbyreferee.net/2022/06/28/mental-skills-for-refereeing/ ------------------------------------------------ You can find Tim ...
Jun 28, 2022•40 min•Ep. 33
Today, it's a solo episode looking at the one of the less pleasant sides of our game - the general increase in angst and poor behaviour on and around the rugby field. We have a look into how to manage and deal with these types of situations, whether it's players baiting each other, angsty touch judges, coaches, replacements and spectators. There's some helpful lines and approaches that we have discussed in our referee community group , so my thanks to those who contributed their thoughts and exp...
Jun 06, 2022•29 min
I'm joined by Andrew Macpherson, now the High Performance Match Official Manager from Scottish Rugby to talk about their new three year Refereeing and Match Official Development Strategy We chat about: Why there's been a 17 year gap between Scottish international referees The new Match Official Strategy and how it'll help reduce the 17 year gap before the next one How to attract referees up and down the rugby pyramid Creating CPD for referees - and accrediting new trainers How great referees nee...
Apr 29, 2022•34 min
I'm joined for a second time by Ross Hanbury, a referee fitness specialist who's been working with various referee societies and referees for some years now. We talk about all sorts of things through this episode - from finding small ways to keep mobile while working from home, to getting started again, staying fit when we're all stuck at home, some mobility and speed suggestions. We also go through the various fitness tests which rugby referees can do to set a benchmark for future attainment. A...
Nov 07, 2020•54 min
A slightly different style of show for you here as I bring you the audio of a Facebook Live show, recorded on 22 July 2020, and hosted by Three Blokes, A Ball & Bod . Co-hosted by Advantage Over host Keith Lewis and the show's own Big Joe Sheppard, we were joined by Bay of Plenty Referee Manager, Cam Russell and Premiership Rugby TMO (who had 110 appearances as a Premiership referee) David Rose. We covered so much ground in the show and it was a shame not to bring you the audio. It was recor...
Aug 05, 2020•1 hr 19 min
Bonus episode as World Rugby have today outlined 10 possible temporary law changes so that rugby can restart in a post-Coronavirus world. It will be up to individual Unions and competition chiefs to decide whether to introduce the, and which ones, on a temporary basis to suit local regulations or guidance. For full wordings and story, visit: https://rugbyreferee.net/2020/05/28/post-covid-19-law-variation-options-announced-by-world-rugby/...
May 28, 2020•13 min
Today, we're joined by Nick Marshall, active referee and organiser of Marshalling Men's Minds - a community and support network for those with poor mental health, We talked about his refereeing and mental health journeys (one upwards, one less so..) and how he overcame it. We talked about how to spot if you're struggling, what triggers you (or your nearest and dearest may see) as well as how that manifests when you head onto the field. We covered some ground around dealing with pressure on the p...
May 21, 2020•38 min
World Rugby have today (12 May 2020) changed the scoring law, removing the ability for a player to score a try by grounding the ball against the post protector. Why? Well listen in and find out! (Hint: player safety) Full story: https://rugbyreferee.net/2020/05/12/law-change-grounded-against-post-protector-removed-as-scoring-possibility/
May 12, 2020•4 min
In the second of our shorter form podcasts, we take a look into refereeing advantage in rugby. It's one of those areas, plenty of people have a view on, so let's look into what the law says, and how we should best look to referee it. As ever, we'd love to know what you think so let us know - find us on social media at @RugbyRefereeNet, or comment on the blog over at rugbyreferee.net ------------------------ Twitter: @RugbyRefereeNet Instagram: @RugbyRefereeNet Facebook: RugbyReferee.net Referee ...
Apr 27, 2020•18 min
Welcome to episode 24 of the Advantage Over podcast. This is the first of series of shorter podcasts aimed at keeping your refereeing mind ticking over - especially given the events we’re all living through all over the rugby globe. Today, we're looking at in-goal. Why? Well, it's the most queried area of the game in our community discussions over on Facebook . It’s such an important area, and without fully thinking it through, could have big repercussions on the game if we get it wrong! So, in ...
Apr 08, 2020•13 min
In this week's episode, we speak to Alistair Falconer Hall, a new referee in Oxfordshire, England. He talks to us about why he decided to get into refereeing, his thoughts on the training he went through and what it's been like in his first few games. Hopefully you'll be inspired by his journey and want to get involved - let us know! Other things mentioned in the podcast: #RefSquad - You've seen us using that hashtag on our social media content. If you're posting your own content, then add that ...
Feb 12, 2020•33 min
Sam Needs - Super Rugby prop and creator of ScrumStrong.com joins us to talk about all things related to the scrum. We chat about the different elements of setting up the scrum, what to look for, and they how to spot the issues that often crop up from a refereeing perspective. We also discuss Sam's idea around "Scrumpires" - speciality referees who come on to officiate the scrums. Read the article that prompted our discussion https://scrumstrong.com/a-solution-to-refereeing-the-scrum/ Follow Sam...
Dec 13, 2019•45 min
A week after the Rugby World Cup final, we look at the top eight things we take away from the tournament - but from a refereeing perspective. What are our top eight? #1 Introducing a big new ‘thing’ needs to be done earlier #2 All teams in a tournament need bedding-in time #3 The future elite group of referees looks bright #4 Don’t set out the stall to early #5 We have to take the rugby audience with us #6 There’s room for referee personalities #7 We have to sort out the breakdown #8 Diversity c...
Nov 09, 2019•27 min
Wayne Barnes, the RFUs most experienced rugby referee joins the Advantage Over podcast to talk about: his career highlights how he maintains his professional athlete status peaks and troughs and how he deals with it nutrition, training and sleep! His panel of advisers his future in rugby A great chat - we hope you enjoy it!
Sep 13, 2019•29 min
We're joined on the podcast by Cody Neilson from Auckland Rugby who takes us behind the scenes of their Associate Referee Programme
Jun 24, 2019•44 min
In Episode 18 of the Advantage Over podcast, we speak to Alhambra Nievas, World Rugby's Referee Development Manager who joins us to talk about the recent High Performance Women's Camp
May 25, 2019•26 min
Hear about the 21st team at RWC2019 - and from Alain Rolland as he gets his squad ready for the biggest tournament in world rugby
May 09, 2019•22 min
US Major League Rugby's Match Officials Manager, Richard Every joins is on the latest Advantage Over podcast episode
Apr 03, 2019•42 min
An inspiring interview to celebrate International Women's Day. Mui Thomas joins us to talk about refereeing and Harlequin IIchthyosis
Mar 07, 2019•29 min
Listen to our interview with the IRFU's Andrew Brace, about his refereeing journey, life in the PRO14, recovering from injury, and some tips for refereeing success!
Feb 28, 2019•25 min
Episode 13 of the podcast and we catch up on all the latest news from the refereeing world, as well as an interview with John Broadfoot, CEO of SOS Rugby Kit Aid
Jan 15, 2019•30 min
