August 9 - Referees for Championship games - all over the place! (see below)

July 23 - Have whistle, will travel (see below)

July 19 - Keep your certification up to date (see below)

July 8 - Focus Group selections announced (see below)

July 8 - New procedures for travel claims (see below)

July 7 - Faith Based Headgear (see below)

July 2 -  There's a new video produced by Andrew Hall and Gareth Callaway to launch the RO/ORRS Focus Group Programme.   (see below) 

First the Ontario Summer games, followed by the Canadian National Championships, then the Caribbean Championships and finally the Women's World Cup!     It's a busy August for Ontario referees.   

Ontario referees are on the move.  Karen Lozada and Andrew Hosie have returned from Portugal and the World University Sevens while Andrew Hall is at an IRB Referee Camp in South Africa.

Whether you are a referee or a referee coach, it is your responsibility to ensure that your NRCP certification is up to date.   You need to take action at least every four years.

The names of those of those selected for the Focus Group have been announced, all young referees with potential like Talal "Moe" Chaudhry (left). 

Good news, bad news.  The good news is that the $15 Development Fee has gone.  The bad news is that travel rates are down. 

The issue of faith-based headgear has been highlighted by a recent incident here in Ontario.

Gareth Callaway, Chair of the ORRS, recently announced a new initiative with Rugby Ontario to recruit and train referees who wish to make a career of officiating.      For the brochure, video and applications forms  ........

Following the resignation of Bob Webb, Dave Swift has been appointed Treasurer of the ORRS.

All members have been urged by ORRS Chair, Gareth Callaway,  to clamp down on verbal abuse aimed at match officials and others.

The NRRS has brought out a brochure introducing refereeing to new members. 

Ontario referee Derek Stoltz is officating at the Churchill Cup taking place in Glendale, Colorado.

The first update for 2010 is now available with important infomation on reffing the Big Four.

John Watkins, the Rugby Ontario Director of Game, has a announced a new Ontario League schedule with a number of changes from previous years.

At a recent NRRS meeting Jeff Dahl presented Jim McCann a custom made soapstone carving to recognize Jim's 30 years of service as Chair of the Niagara Society.

At the ORRS AGM, it was out with the old and in with the new.   Gareth Callaway is the new Chair

Congratulations go out to four ORRS Panel Referees as they have been promoted to the National Panel of Referees.  Andrew Hall, Andrew Hosie, Andrew McMaster and Karen Lozada have advanced from the Focus Group and now join Derek Stoltz and Joyce Henry as representatives from Ontario on the National Panel. 

After 30 years as Chair of the Niagara Society, Jim McCann stepped down at the NRRS AGM and a new Board was elected.

We wish every success to Costa Nicolaidis, the new President of the Toronto and District Referees Society.  In that role, he is  automatically a member of the ORRS Board.

Have you visited the new website with lots of referee development material?

"Policies and Procedures" - boring!!   But, maybe not!!   If you are looking for something and can't find it anywhere else, the chances are that it is here.  There's also lots of good stuff that you might not expect.  For example, in "Game Day Administration",  what to do when you have two teams ready to go, but no lines on the field.   Most recently, expense claim procedures have been updated. 

All the very best to Scott Fleming (NRRS) who is the latest referee to be promoted to the Promising List.  But what does it mean?

Trevor Arnold, the Referee Development Manager, for Rugby Canada has some comments following two weeks at the 2009 Nations Cup and the Canada Summer Games

The IRB has issued updated guidance on refereeing the maul, together with some very helpful videos.  Check out the web link.

Statistics get a bad rap as in "lies, damned lies and statistics" but they can be useful.  For statistics from some games in Ontario in 2009 .......

You've been to reffing clinics. You know your Law Book. You are super-fit. Now it's time to actually ref a game. But, first there is some administration.

A reminder that Squeeze Ball is illegal in U19 Rugby

Have you filled in a Feedback Form recently?  

Are you abiding by the 90 minute rule?  Do you know what the 90 minute rule is?

Stating the obvious ...... lightning is dangerous

Money and other valuables have recently been stolen from the referees' change room at Fletcher's and also from the Brantford clubhouse changerooms. 

The IRB has issued a notice reminding that dangerous tackles must receive meaningful penalties  .....

The IRB is pleased to announce a new website dedicated entirely to the Laws of the Game.

A reminder from the Rugby Ontario office that Game Sheets must be completed after each match ........

Our thanks to all who have made this website possible.