National Service Call for Navy Referees : Royal Navy Rugby Union

National Service Call for Navy Refs

Andy Coles concentrating as the Assistant Referee during the 2013 Army v RAF match

Andy Coles though appointed as an AR at national level still referees for the Royal Navy Rugby Referee Society during the week

Steve Woolley being presented with his colours after the Army v RAF match in 2013

Steve Woolley gets his message across to the RAF in their U223XV match v the Army

Royal Navy Referees Andy Coles and Steve Woolley have been selected to join fellow Royal Navy Rugby Referee, Tim Bailey, as part of the Rugby Football Union’s National Panel of Assistant Referees. The promotions will see them officiating in National Leagues 1 and 2 of the RFU league. The promotion confirms the Royal Navy Rugby Union Referee’s Society pedigree in terms of producing officials for national honours. Both Andy and Steve will now be setting their sights on joining other Society members, Paul Burton and Roger Baileff, who are part of the Professional Game Match Officials list that officiate games in the Premiership and the Championship.

Steve Woolley is the most recent member of the Royal Navy Referees Society to be awarded his Navy Colours. Colours are awarded for being one of the three match officials at a senior Inter Service match and in 2013 Steve, along with Andy Coles coincidently, was appointed as Assistant Referee for the Army v RAF match. He was also referee for the Army v RAF match at U23XV level in the same year.

Andy Coles won his Navy Colours in 2008 the same year that he won the Admiral Royds Trophy, for referee of the year. Since then he has combined his refereeing with a busy professional schedule and has also found time to contribute to the game as an administrator, recently becoming Chairman of Combined Services Referees. Andy combines this role with being Chair of the Royal Navy Rugby Union Referees Society and is also currently the Royal Navy Rugby Union’s lead for the annual Combined Services v Barbarians Remembrance Day Match, which this year is played on Armistice Day. The game will be held at Bath Rugby’s famous recreation ground, KO19:30; 11 November 2014. The RNRU website will have full details nearer the time.