Referee Courses
At England Rugby we have a wide range of Match Official courses, whether you’ve never picked up the whistle before or you have years of experience.
Putting you, the referee, at the centre of our courses is important to us, and being able to participate in the offer which is right for you is key. Find out more about our three courses below.
Book a place using the GMS Course Finder.
Our new England Rugby Introduction to Refereeing course provides development and learning around refereeing Rugby Union safely and effectively. In this six-hour course, you will learn the basics of how to referee a number of elements of the game and how to communicate effectively with players, coaches and volunteers, to ensure that everyone involved is playing in a safe and enjoyable environment.
With three hours online learning and three hours face-to-face learning, this blended approach allows you to learn from the comfort of your own home whilst being able to put into practice your refereeing skills on the face-to-face session.
Courses are booked on request and run by RFU Educators. For more information about requesting a course head over to our Referee Organisations Pages under Recruiting Match Officials.
The England Rugby Refereeing award is our Level 2 qualification and is our competency-based qualification providing the knowledge, skills, and attributes to referee young players and adults safely and effectively. Covering all aspects of the game, the course considers how we can simplify refereeing by using “processes”, how we can communicate our decisions effectively and how we can ultimately be safe in everything we do.
The format of the course involves two face-to face days, with several webinars and networking sessions between from December to April. The England Rugby Refereeing award looks to develop candidates in a practical based environment, providing blended learning to suit you and your time.
To find courses in your local area and book your place, visit GMS Course Finder.
The England Rugby Advanced Match Official Award (AMOA) is a competency-based course that uses practical observations and group networking sessions.
The programme is for active match officials who have completed the England Rugby Referee Award (or equivalent) to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding of officiating rugby union. The course will develop individual through four main components: Level 3 Match Officiating qualification, sport science, practical Officiating and supporting others.
The AMOA runs from September to May and applications are open to any member of a refereeing society who has completed the ERRA or L2 equivalent. Applications can be made below (please do read the two attached documents prior to submitting your application).
Applications are currently closed for 24/25, and will open for next season in May 2025.
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