Top New Zealand Referees to elevate SL’s Rugby officiating

A team of experienced New Zealand rugby referees will arrive in Sri Lanka to elevate the standard of officiating among local rugby referees ahead of the upcoming Club rugby season.

The three-member team from New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty Rugby Region includes referee educator Sam Fellows, performance coach Sam Thompson, and referee Sean Curragh. The programme is organised under the leadership of Sri Lankan-born Krishan Ambawatte, now residing in New Zealand.

Dinka Peiris, President of the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees, highlighted the value of this training initiative: “The expertise and experience of New Zealand rugby referees will be invaluable in providing our local officials with valuable insights into the game, modern refereeing techniques, and the latest rule interpretations. By learning from these highly skilled referees, our own officials will be better equipped to officiate at the highest levels of domestic and Asian rugby tournaments.”

The New Zealand referees will not only conduct training sessions but will also officiate in several local matches during their visit.

Sam Fellows, a Level II referee with 21 years of experience, has officiated for the Auckland, Waikato, and Southern California Rugby Unions.

His career includes 39 New Zealand First Class games, 110 Provincial Premier games, and three World Rugby Sevens tournaments. Fellows has refereed notable events, such as the Bay of Plenty Premier final and the Coral Coast Sevens in Fiji, and brings ten years of coaching experience to enrich his training sessions in Sri Lanka.

Sam Thompson, with 18 years of refereeing experience, has worked with Poverty Bay, Manawatu, Horowhenua-Kapiti, and Bay of Plenty Rugby Union. He has officiated over 40 New Zealand First Class games and 144 Provincial Premier games. Ranked the top referee in Horowhenua-Kapiti Rugby Union from 2018 to 2023, Thompson has officiated in three Premier finals and two Hurricane Zone College Boys Finals.

Sean Curragh, also from Bay of Plenty Rugby Union, brings seven years of experience and has refereed the Bay of Plenty Premier Development Final and served as an assistant referee for National NPC games. Curragh’s growing reputation includes officiating at the 2023 World School Festival in Thailand and five Provincial Premier games.

Source:Daily News