November 22 - ORRS - Under New Management (see below)

November 21 - Officiated by an all-Canadian team, the US beat Uruguay 27 - 6 to qualify for the 2010 World Cup.

November 17 - New Chair for NRRS (see below)

November 16 - For the latest edition of the ORRS Development Update, click here

November 16 - All the best to Derek Stoltz in his appointment as Assistant Referee to the second leg of the USA v Uruguay World Cup Qualifying match on November 21 in Florida.   The US won the first leg 27 - 22 so, with a place in the World Cup on the line, the second leg should be a match to remember. 

November 15 - OUA and OCAA Finals (see below)

November 15 - High Performance Referees Conference (see below)

November 12 - IRB Ruling 9: 2009 -  The IRB has issued a new ruling on the line-out.  For details, click on "Technical" and "Rulings"

November 11 - TDRRS AGM (see below)

November 5 - If you incurred any ORRS expenses this year, you should submit your claim now.  The cut off date is November 15.    This includes travel claims for refereeing appointments.  For full details on how to submit a claim, what you can claim and what you can't,  click here.

November 2 - Club season finale (See below)

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. 

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

 What a great day at Fletchers.  Four close games.  Two won by last minute tries.  The other two won with only a four point margin.  A good crowd.   And the sun shone.

After 30 years, yes, 30 years, as Chair of the Niagara Society, Jim McCann stepped down at the NRRS AGM.

Many thanks to Andrew Hall and Steve Scott for producing Development updates throughout the year.  For the latest one ...

The world's top international referees and referee managers met in London this week for the annual IRB High Performance Referee Conference.

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.

The Club season ended with two nail biting finals.  Both came down to kicks in the last few minutes.

Congratulations to BC Referee, Dave Smortchevsky, on his International IRB appointment.   He will be assisted by Ontario referee, Derek Stoltz and fellow Canadian, Brian Arciero.  It shows there is still a path to the very top for Canadian referees.

Three Ontario referees will be travelling to the UK in the near future.

There's a new website available 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. 

It was no joke when two senior club officials were suspended for faking a blood injury.   There are serious implications for referees and #4/5 in high level matches.

What do you do when a parachute lands in the middle of the game that you are reffing??   This actually happened!

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?

Provide support for Canada's Olympic athletes - including its Rugby players.

Congratulations to Andrew Hall to his appointment  as referee to two Americas Championship games.

Many thanks to all the referees who made their contribution to an extremely successful day.

The McCormick Cup has a new format this year.  And there's also a new Second Tier Cup.

Lauren Young who played and reffed in Ontario is in Australia for a year.

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

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

The first year of new Ontario Junior A League came to a conclusion on Monday August 24 with a nail biter of a win by Waterloo over Barrie.    This followed two extremely competitive semi-finals the previous week.  Well done to all the teams.

Congratulations to Ontario referees Joyce Henry and Karen Lozada on their officiating.    For some photographs from the event .....   

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 .......

Steve Harland is back in the UK having completed a busy two weeks in Ontario as a guest of the ORRS.   Steve is the RFU Referee Development Manager for SW England and a RFU National Panel Referee.  

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.

August 2009 will be a memorable month for Rugby, and Rugby referees, in Ontario.  There's the Nations Cup, the National Festival, the Canada Summer Games, Steve Harland RFU RDO, visitors from Northumberland, playoffs for the Junior A and OWL, plus the finale of the Ontario and Branch Leagues.  Enough to keep everyone busy!

A reminder that Squeeze Ball is illegal in U19 Rugby

The U14 Rugby Festival sponsored by Rugby Ontario was a huge success for both players and referees.

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

Have you filled in a Feedback Form recently?  

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

Brian Bell, Ontario Panel referee, recently reffed at the Gold Coast Schools Tournament in Australia .....

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

The first session has been held for the Referee Development squad organized by Referee Development Officer, Andrew Hall.

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

Scottish referees, Jean Marie Burrell and Ali Watt,  have come and gone.  Thanks to all who assisted in their 10 day visit as part of the long running Ontario - Scotland exchange programme.

That's ORRS referee, Joyce Henry, in action in the recent charity match on Parliament Hill

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

The IRB has issued an important ruling on "Hands in the Ruck".

Effective May 23, the game in Ontario will be played according to the 2009 IRB Law Book.  Some of the ELVs have been adopted, others have not.

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

The Rugby Referee Academy, headed by Andrew Hall RDO, is alive and well with sessions being held at the Crusaders Club.

Rugby Ontario is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrew Hall as Rugby Development Officer. 

This is really good news for the ORRS. 

Once again Rogers will be televising matches from Fletchers Field.  This year it will include both Men's Marshall Division matches and Women's OWL matches. 

As part of the continued emphasis on coaching referees rather than just assessing them, Steve Scott, the ORRS Development Director, has announced the 2009 Ontario Referee Coaching Panel.  

The Ontario Referee Panel for Spring 2009 has had to be revised due to retirements and relocations. 

What a year 2008 was for international appointments by Ontario referees - and 2009 has started even better!

To England, to Spain, to Mexico, to Grand Cayman, to Dubai - our referees travel the globe.

For a few shots of our referees in action

(or just smiling for the camera!)

Our thanks to all who have made this website possible.