The IRB Referee Manager, Paddy O’Brien, and the IRB Referee Selectors have recognised Vancouver referee, David Smortchevsky by appointing him to an International Test that also serves as a Rugby World Cup Qualifier and four Tournaments in the 2009-2010 IRB Sevens World Series.

“These are prestigious appointments that recognise the hard work and dedication that David has put into his referee development” stated Rugby Canada’s Director of Rugby and Referee Development Manager, Trevor Arnold.

Arnold went on to say “it displays that Canadian referees are now recognised on the world stage and indicates to others that there is a new route for individuals to travel in order to reach the top of the IRB international totem pole: the journey is now no longer only available to players”.

Smortchevsky will referee the Uruguay v USA World Cup Qualifier in Florida in November of this year as well as referee at the Adelaide, Hong Kong, London and Edinburgh Sevens in 2010.

These appointments are a direct result of his performances in the final of last year’s NA4 Tournament and his performances earlier this year at the Nations Cup in Romania.

At these events he was reviewed by IRB Referee Performance Reviewers Paul Bridgman from the RFU, David McHugh (IRFU) and Patrick Robin from France. He impressed the reviewer on every occasion and has now reaped his rewards.