Sri Lanka Rugby Football Union (SLRFU) has invited Mr. Gabbei (IRB Referee development consultant) to conduct a rugby refereeing programme for the local referees.
He landed in the island on Wednesday and will depart on Sunday after observing how the local referees officiate in the Mercantile 7’s and will give his analysis and feedback. Furthermore he conducted a seminar yesterday at the Swimming Club in Colombo from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Around 20 new comers were educated in the morning session while 20 experienced local referees took part in the afternoon session.
ThePapare.com spoke with Mr. Gabbei and excerpts of which are below :
What is this Programme is about ?
BG: This is a programme that we conduct with the stake holders or the governing bodies. This morning will be working on the referees education and administration. We will examine closely on one to one basis and identify their strength and weaknesses and educate them.
What is your role in the IRB ?
BG: I am looking after the development of referees. There are 3 referee managers that IRB has appointed. 1) with 7’s rugby, 2) to look after professional rugby six nations / four nations(championship), 3) to look after the developing region in all over the world and educate them. No 3 is what I am doing with the IRB
What are the obstacles that you find with referees?
BG: We have huge demands at the top level but many referees don’t have the time to officiate as they need to travel we need to assist them but that is a huge challenge in terms of economic side.
How much respect is given to the referee today ?
BG: Good question, respect is a part of integrity and we don’t allow the game to stop all the time, we want the referees to flow the game in to fast pace and manage the game in to certain level and it is in their own hands.
Even International referees do make mistake as human beings it is happening in all the other sports even with modern technology what is your take this ?
BG : Yes, Indeed we have some plans to work out after the next rugby world cup with technology things like forward passes in technological view will be an added advantage for referees but we may take this off in the future as we give that decision solely to the referee. However, there are some plans we might try in the future.
How do the fitness/selections work on with the referees in 7’s?
BG: Well, in elite world 7’s there is a fitness coach who will be travelling along with the referees for one week he will be also looking at the nutrition level of the referees but most of it is up to the union. IRB has set up protocols in international standard they need to report 4 times a year to us and if they don’t do to our standard then we have to drop them. Fitness level for this is very very high. In YoYo test our top referees do it at 22 although the pass mark is 19. In a typical tournament week all will arrive a week prior, we will do a pitch session on Tuesday, gym session on Wednesday and a pool session on Thursday apart from that they will be training their own schedules too.
What do you think the standard of the referees in Sri Lanka ?
BG: Well, I have been here in 2003 to officiate in Kandy 7’s but I’m not sure the standard since then that is why I’m here to observe them today and during the Mercantile 7’s
Finally, is there a scarcity of persons taking up this field ?
BG : Yes very much, I think that problem we do have in Sri Lanka too, in New Zealand for the number of rugby matches they play they don’t have enough referees to officiate. In my opinion we need to have 2 available referees in each 100 players so a Union can manage. In Africa nobody wants to become a referee everyone wants to become players as the image of refereeing is very low unlike in USA & Canada it is well balanced and people showing interest in blowing the whistle.
ThePapare.com thanks Mr Bernd Gabbei for sparing us his time.
