Schools Referee Programme
5th March 2024 By The Editor
A view of last month's National School blitz in Thomond Park which saw referees from St Munchin's College officiate as part of the Schools Referee Programme.
The Munster Rugby Schools Referee Programme continues to grow after the initiative was launched last season.
The programme sees Transition Year and Fifth Year students from schools throughout the province complete the online IRFU Affiliate Referee course in addition to an in-person regional course. This season, due to high demand, two regional courses took place in Cork and Limerick.
The schools that are participating in the programme include CBC, PBC, Bandon Grammar, Ardscoil Rís, Castletroy College, Crescent College Comprehensive, Glenstal Abbey, Rockwell College and Villiers.
Once the courses are completed, the referees can officiate a match in their own school at an age below their own. 31 students took part in the programme in 2022/23 and it has increased to 89 for the current season.
We recently spoke to Limerick Community Rugby Officer Kenneth McNamara and St Munchin’s College students Thomas O’Brien and Paddy O’Driscoll at a National School blitz in Thomond Park where they discussed the benefits of the programme.
