RFU Judicial Officers
Richard Whittam KC - Independent Head of Judiciary
He is an experienced RFU Judicial Chair and a Judicial Officer for World Rugby and EPCR. He chairs hearings at first instance and on appeal. He also chairs Safeguarding Panels at first instance and on appeal. Richard is a specialist regulatory and criminal barrister. He sat as a Deputy High Court judge for six years and is a Recorder of the Crown Court. He is a Justice of Appeal of the Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the Sandwich Islands and a legal member of the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission.
Aidan O’Brien
Aidan O’Brien is a practising Barrister based in central London. He specialises in disciplinary and regulatory law. Aidan sits as an RFU Judicial Panel Chairman adjudicating on disciplinary issues and competition appeals. He has also been appointed to the World Rugby, EPCR and Football Association disciplinary panels. Aidan continues to play social rugby when time permits.
Alastair Campbell
Alastair Campbell is a solicitor and partner at his firm, specialising in commercial and disciplinary disputes in the sports sector. He has played amateur rugby as a scrum half for nearly 25 years, most recently for the Honourable Artillery Company in London.
Antony Davies
Antony Davies is a former player, Referee and Youth Coach. He has been a Chairman for the RFU National Panel since 2003. He sits as a Judicial Officer for 6 Nations Rugby, EPCR and World Rugby and has officiated at Youth and Women’s World Cups and at RWC 2015. Antony was appointed by World Rugby in June 2018 as a World Rugby licensed Judicial Educator for World Rugby Judicial Officers in the Northern Hemisphere.
His experience includes foul play and misconduct cases, Anti-Doping, Competition and Regulatory Appeals, Safeguarding and Welfare cases and Appeals. He was Secretary of English National League Club Wharfedale RUFC for 15 years and continues to advise the Club and its Players on Disciplinary and Regulatory matters. He is a Solicitor in private practice in the Yorkshire Dales.
Charles Cuthbert
Charles Cuthbert is a consultant solicitor in private practice. He has been a Judicial Officer and Chair for UAE Rugby, Asia Rugby, 6 Nations and World Rugby on first instance and appellate hearings since 2011 and for the RFU since 2019 and played rugby for school, university and various clubs until injury forced his early retirement from the game.
Daniel Gore
Daniel Gore is currently an active Society Referee in Hertfordshire and sits on the Executive Committee of the Referee Society. He played in the front row through school, university and amateur club rugby. Daniel is an experienced solicitor specialising in dispute resolution and has experience dealing with commercial and regulatory matters across a range of sectors including sports.
Dan White
Daniel White has sat as a Judicial Officer for the RFU, EPCR, 6 Nations and World Rugby on first instance and appellate hearings since joining the RFU Panel in 2010. He formerly played 1st XV rugby for Moseley, Stourbridge and Blackheath RFC. He is a barrister at Citadel Chambers in Birmingham and practises in the areas of criminal and sports law. In addition, Daniel is also a Member of the Sports Resolution Panel of Appointees.
David Lidbury
David Lidbury is a barrister and Deputy District Judge sitting in family and civil cases. He has been an RFU Panel Chair since 2017. He played amateur rugby for 20 years and is now a club youth coach.
Dr Julian Morris
Dr Julian Morris sits as chairman at first instance and appeal levels for the RFU. He is also appointed to the European and 6-Nations panels. He played for 25 years across School, University and Forces Rugby. He is a partner and regional operating partner for his firm and also sits as an Assistant Coroner (Inner London South).
Euan Ambrose
Euan Ambrose is a full-time Circuit Judge sitting in civil and criminal cases. He has been an RFU Judicial Officer since 2013 and an RFU Judicial Chairman since 2014.
Gareth Graham
Gareth Graham sits as a Judicial Chairman for the RFU, EPCR, 6 Nations and World Rugby. He retired from rugby in 2014 having worn a number 8 shirt for many years in a variety of colours. He is a barrister at 3 Paper Buildings, London, with a practice in employment, professional discipline and sports law.
Gareth Rees KC
Gareth Rees KC played first class and county rugby in the 1980s. He sat on Middlesex Disciplinary panels for 10 years and has been an RFU Chairman since 2009. He has been a barrister since 1981 and Queens Counsel since 2003.
Ian Unsworth KC
Ian Unsworth KC is a former Minis and Junior Coach and Chairman for a National League Club, Ian has been an RFU Judicial Officer acting as Chairman of first instance cases and appeals since 2010. He also sits as a Judicial Officer for the 6 Nations and World Rugby.
Sir James Dingemans
Sir James Dingemans played rugby at Oxford University and Ealing RFC. He was appointed the first Independent Head of Judiciary in 2013. He has been appointed to EPCR, 6 Nations and World Rugby panels and has sat as an Appeal Officer for two Rugby World Cups.
Jeremy Summers
Jeremy Summers is a solicitor and partner in his firm has been a Chairman on the RFU National Panel since 2006. He also sits as Judicial Officer for World Rugby and European Professional Club Rugby as well as being a member of the UK's National Anti-Doping Panel. He played the game as a scrum half for over 25 years mainly for Moseley and the Hong Kong Football Club and is a Director and Vice President of Birmingham Moseley.
John Greenwood
John Greenwood joined the RFU discipline panel in 2016 and is Discipline Chairman of Lancashire CB. He sits as a Judicial Officer for 6 Nations Rugby and EPCR. He is a solicitor in private practice and has a long-standing involvement with Fylde RFC having formerly been appointed as 1st XV Manager, Senior Squad Director and more recently, their Director of Rugby.
Martin Picton
Martin Picton has been a full time judge since 2005. He sits in the Crown Court, the Court of Appeal Criminal Division, High Court and Administrative Court dealing with a wide range of cases including murder. He has been chairing hearings for the RFU since 2019 and also chairs disciplinary hearings for Rugby Europe. His participation in rugby, save as an avid follower of the game, has been by way of involvement with Old Bristolians RFC where he ran a youth side from U14 up to Colts.
Matthew O'Grady
Matthew O’Grady has recently retired as a Premiership referee, having officiated across the world in World Rugby competitions, the European Champions and Challenge Cups, Age Grade test matches, the Championship and Aviva and Gallagher Premiership. Outside of rugby Matthew is a barrister in England, Australia and New Zealand. He sits as a Judge on a part-time basis and Is also a Chairman of The FA Safeguarding Review Panel Appeal Board and an independent chairman of the PGA European Tour Disciplinary Panel.
Matthew Weaver KC
Matthew Weaver KC is a former National League level player, a former junior academy coach at Leicester Tigers and current coach with Staffordshire RFU, and the father of two rugby-playing children. He is a barrister specialising in Chancery and Commercial Law and a Recorder of the County Court. He was appointed to the RFU Disciplinary Panel in 2017 and is a judicial officer for EPCR, Rugby Europe and World Rugby.
Mike Hamlin
Mike Hamlin is a former player (Hooker for 26 years) and Referee for 19 years (RFU Panel Referee for 13 years and officiated in 9 different countries). Mike has chaired RFU disciplinary and appeal panels since 2005; he is also a judicial officer and chairman for World Rugby and Six Nations and also acts as a Match Commissioner for Rugby Europe. In addition he is currently a timekeeper for the Premiership and internationals and is former Chairman of Manchester and District RURS. Mike was appointed Chairman of the Independent Judicial Panel for EPCR in August 2017 and was appointed by World Rugby in June 2018 as a World Rugby licensed Judicial Educator for World Rugby Judicial Officers in the Northern Hemisphere. Mike is a retired Solicitor but still sits part time as a Judge and has done since 1995.
Oliver Clark
Ollie played rugby for 18 years for school, university and a couple of clubs until he joined the Royal Navy in 2006, after which operational deployments led to his decision to stop playing in 2009. Ollie is a Commander in the Royal Navy and is a qualified barrister, specialising in criminal, maritime and international law. Ollie is the current Head of Discipline for the Royal Navy Rugby Union, has been an RFU Judicial Officer since 2018, and has sat on Armed Forces Rugby and Dorset and Wilts CB panels since 2017.
Rebecca Harris
Rebecca Harris is an independent barrister specialising in crime, regulatory law and professional discipline. She has been a member of the RFU’s disciplinary panel since 2014 and a member of the RFU’s specialist safeguarding panel since its inception in 2016. Rebecca’s brother played rugby professionally for over 10 years, and she remains actively involved with the game. She is a member of her local club, has two boys who play age-grade rugby for school and club, and a now adult son who plays BUCS rugby.
Samantha Hillas KC
Sam Hillas KC is a barrister on the Northern Circuit, specialising in matrimonial finance and practising from St Johns Buildings. She has a long history of playing rugby, has been involved in club and county rugby for many years and was an RFUW board member during the period of integration with the RFU. Prior to her appointment to the RFU’s disciplinary panel, Sam represented a number of players at constituent body/RFU disciplinary hearings and was appointed as a panel chair during the 2014-2015 season. Sam sits as a judicial officer for Six Nations, EPCR and World Rugby.
Sean Enright
Sean Enright has been a Circuit Judge for the last fourteen years. Prior to that appointment he was in practice at the criminal bar for 25 years. He has been actively involved in playing, coaching or administration in the game for 40 years and joined the RFU discipline panel as chair in 2008.
Sir Peter Fraser
Sir Peter Fraser was made a member of the RFU Judicial Panel in 2013, was appointed a High Court Judge in 2015, and in 2023 was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal and Chair of the Law Commission. He has sat as both a Panel Member and Chair in Anti-Drug cases, Disciplinary proceedings and also on Regulatory matters. He was also appointed to the Judicial Panel for World Rugby and the Six Nations in 2016, and was on the panel that ruled on eligibility in a dispute between Spain, Belgium, Romania and Russia for RWC 2019 in Tokyo. He played rugby from school age in Yorkshire, until retiring as a player when aged 30 at London Scottish.
Tim Naylor
Tim Naylor is a barrister and Director of Integrity and Regulation at the British Horseracing Authority. He played 1XV schools rugby in Wales and at University and senior level in the USA. He represented American Universities in New Zealand and against Canada U21 before returning and playing senior rugby in London and Wales. He has sat on Middlesex RFU Disciplinary Panels since 2012 and became a RFU panel member in 2018. Tim is also an Independent Non-Executive Director at the Football Association of Wales and is the Board lead for diversity and inclusion.
Tom Gilbart
Tom Gilbart is a Circuit Judge sitting on criminal cases in the Crown Court. At the bar, after 10 years in criminal law, he dealt with employment law; professional regulation and coronial inquests. Tom has played rugby for Heaton Moor Juniors; Didsbury Toc H and Burnage Rugby Club. He is lead coach of a youth rugby side based in the Northwest of England.
Disciplinary Panel Members
Adam Williamson
Adam has been the Discipline Officer for Northumberland County Football Association since 2019. As part of his role Adam investigates matters of on and off the pitch misconduct in the grassroots youth and amateur game, assessing evidence and raising charges where necessary for matters such as referee abuse, violent conduct, discriminatory language and rule breaches. Adam arranges and sits as Secretary for all disciplinary hearings and appeals against red cards and local league decisions. Adam also acts as the County FA’s Deputy Designated Safeguarding Officer.
Alana Bainbridge
Alana is currently a PWR player with Leicester Tigers, having previously played for Wasps and DMP Sharks. She is an alumnus of Newcastle Law School and has represented England under 20s while pursuing her full-time LLB degree. At present, Alana is dedicating her efforts to Premiership rugby, with plans to qualify as a solicitor in the coming years, with an interest in commercial litigation and sports law.
Andrew Street
Andrew is a litigation partner at the international law firm, BCLP. Andrew has over a decade of experience in acting on sports disputes and contentious regulatory and disciplinary matters in sport, including acting on matters involving Premiership rugby clubs. Andrew was appointed to the RFU Disciplinary Panel in 2024 and is also a member of the Judicial Panels for the LTA and England Boxing. Andrew is a contributing author to the textbook ‘Football and the Law’ (Bloomsbury), has been published by The Times on sports law issues, and is individually ranked by Chambers for sports law.
Becky Essex
Becky is a former international rugby player who has 57 caps for England. She retired from playing after winning the World Cup in 2014 however she made a return to the pitch in November 2017 when she was invited to play in the inaugural Women's Barbarians team against Munster going on to win 19-0. Becky became an RFU Disciplinary Panel member in 2015 and also sits for EPCR, 6 Nations and World Rugby as a Panel Member.
Charlotte Mitchell-Dunn
Charlotte is an independent barrister who specialises in Professional Discipline, Civil and Sports law. She sits as a Legal Assessor/Adviser for numerous professional regulators including the HCPC, NMC, Social Work England and the GOC. Charlotte has been a member of the RFU’s Disciplinary Panel since 2020. Prior to undertaking practice at the independent bar Charlotte worked within the RFU’s Disciplinary Department as the Discipline Case Officer for a period of three years.
Christian Scotland Williamson
Christian is a Loughborough University Alumnus. At the beginning of his third year of study, Christian was signed to his first professional contract and began his professional journey while completing his degree. He is a former two-sport professional athlete playing both Premiership Rugby and for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the National Football League.
During his career, Christian was able to complete Master’s Degrees in International Business and in Law. Channelling his competitive spirit and elite drive to his pursuits off of the field, Christian will be called to the Bar of England and Wales in the summer of 2023. A Broadcaster for talkSPORT, Ambassador for the NFL and a future Barrister. Christian has a deep commitment to social mobility through the combination of sport and education.
Christopher Coltart KC
Christopher has significant experience of acting in sporting disciplinary cases. He is a lifelong rugby fan.
Christine Braamskamp
Christine is a barrister specialising in criminal and regulatory matters. She is the managing partner of the London office of a leading US law firm. She is also a co-chair and co-founding partner of the firm's Culture Review and Sensitive Investigations practice, which focuses on non-financial misconduct and culture reviews. Christine has extensive regulatory experience and has appeared in disciplinary tribunals and inquests. Christine's husband played semi-professional rugby at Bristol in the 90s and two of her three sons play for The Netherlands and at Nat2/BUCS super rugby level. Her youngest plays age-grade rugby. She was appointed to the RFU Panel in 2024.
Guy Lovgreen
A serving headteacher, Guy first joined the panel in 2016. A current level 3 RFU coach since 2008 (with other coaching badges across many sports) he has coached at level 3 and 4 in the national leagues for many years following on from a playing career. Guy worked with the New Zealand u20 coaching team in the 2016 World Cup and also coaches in the county men's championship set up for Lancashire and is their current team manager.
Harry Gaunt
After stints at both Northampton Saints and Coventry Rugby, Harry has been coaching rugby mostly at schools, most recently as Assistant Head of Rugby at Stowe School.
Helen Harvey
Helen is a solicitor specialising in corporate crime and investigations. She played rugby for 10 years, first for Blackheath Women and then, after having her children, for Haringey Ladies.
Inigo Churchill
Inigo has over 40 years of playing experience and is currently involved at Wasps FC. He is a Vice President of Middlesex CRFU and sits on their Competitions Committee and disciplinary panels.
James Armstrong-Holmes
James is a criminal and regulatory barrister who played rugby for much of his life until injury forced retirement. He sits on the Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire & Derbyshire (NLD) CB Disciplinary Panel, and is the current Chair of Disciplinary, Disputes & Appeals for Paddle UK (formerly British Canoeing). He is additionally a disciplinary panel member for both British Triathlon and Basketball England.
James Kyle
James is a practicing barrister who specialises in all areas of criminal law. He primarily undertakes instructions in cases involving corporate and individual business crime, including fraud, bribery and corruption. James played senior rugby for 13 years as a part time professional, latterly for Richmond FC, before retiring from the game to concentrate on his legal career. James has kept involved in the game through coaching. He is current Head Coach of Newcastle University and has ambitions to coach professionally.
James Pretsell
James is a barrister practising from Chambers in London. He has extensive experience of presenting and defending disciplinary proceedings before a variety of professional and sporting bodies. He played schools and youth rugby in South Wales and senior rugby for ten years at London Welsh. He has coached at junior and colts level for 12 years.
James Sturman KC
With a practice in Sports law, crime, business crime, fraud, sanctions and Health and Safety, Jim took silk in 2002 and was called to the Bar in 1983. He sits as Chairman of PGA Appeals and ad hoc in other sports law disputes. He has extensive experience representing football players and participants in the full range of sports, including horse and motor racing, both in the UK and all over the world.
James Wilson
James has sat on the RFU panel for 4 years and the Yorkshire Discipline Panel for 5. He has played rugby for over 30 years and has played at most domestic levels, bar the Premiership. James is a Barrister practising in regulatory and professional discipline.
Jamie Baxter
Jamie is a barrister on the Northern Circuit, specialising in crime, and practises out of 7 Harrington Street Chambers, Liverpool. He previously played schools and youth rugby on the Wirral and continues to play senior rugby. He has represented players at RFU disciplinary hearings and was appointed to the RFU Disciplinary Panel in 2024.
Jane Bickerstaff KC
Jane is a criminal barrister with 35 years experience. She sits as panel member and legally qualified chair for a number of sports governing bodies, in regulatory and safeguarding cases. She has been appointed as chair in first instance and appeal cases through Sport Resolutions since 2019. She also sits as a sole arbitrator in sports regulatory matters.
Jeremy Stone
Jeremy is a practising solicitor with over 10 years of working in a variety of elite sports including rugby, tennis, golf and F1 and was previously a Disciplinary Panel member for England Boxing. Jeremy has worked in top level rugby consistently for over 10 years and, outside of work, has coached university and mini-rugby teams.
John Brown
John is a barrister at Farrar's Building practicing predominantly in the areas of personal injury, clinical negligence and property damage.
John began playing rugby at age 11 and played for both school and Westcombe Park Rugby Club. He continued playing throughout University and during his early days of the Bar he played for Old Olavians Rugby Club. Having retired from playing in his early thirties he remains an avid follower of the game.
John Downham
John Downham was appointed to the RFU panel in September 2015. He is a former player and club administrator who is the Disciplinary Secretary and Age Grade Disciplinary Secretary for Cheshire RFU.
John Murphy
John spent his playing career at Bournville RFC and is now a qualified referee and Sunday morning youth coach. He is a solicitor working in local government. He also sits on panels for a number of other sports national governing bodies.
John Millington
John has been involved in rugby for almost 30 years as a player, coach, and administrator at all levels across the UK, Asia, and Australia. He has supported and represented athletes in disciplinary and judicial cases, and regularly advises sporting organisations across the world on integrity and regulatory policy and enforcement in his role with EPIC Global Solutions. John continues to be an active member of National 2 North club Lymm RFC having played and coached from M&J to 1st XV level whilst being an active member of the executive committee.
John Vale
John played rugby at school and at Sutton & Epsom RFC and was then an active referee for over 30 years as well as coaching to County Level with Surrey. He was President of, and an RFU Council Member for Surrey Rugby and served 5 years as a Member of the RFU Board of Directors. He was Chairman of the RFU Finance & Funding Committee and the RFU International Ticket Policy Committee. He has been involved in Competition Administration and Regulation for over 25 years. He currently spends Saturday afternoons watching and encouraging aspiring referees from touchlines in Devon, (usually in the rain).
Katie Fothergill
Katie is a criminal, sports and regulatory barrister and has been a member of the Leicestershire CB since 2015. She has worked in disciplinary matters across a number of sports including football, swimming and boxing and is also a disciplinary panel member for England Netball.
Kylie Hutchison
Kylie is a solicitor qualified in Australia, England and Wales with over 25 years’ experience in personal injury and insurance litigation. She has particular specialism in claims involving international law and sport. Kylie has played rugby, sevens and is England’s most capped touch rugby player with over 140 international appearances. She was appointed to the RFU panel in 2018.
Lana Wilks
Lana is a former rugby player, favouring the flanker position. She captained Hove RFC for several years and represented her County team, Sussex and was a part of England Rugby Player Pathway where she also trained with Richmond and Harlequins. She also worked with England Deaf Rugby Union, but an unfortunate injury led to her early retirement from further development in the sport. However, her passion for rugby endures as she continues to support the game through both watching and refereeing.
In her professional capacity, Lana is pursuing a career in law, with a focus on becoming a Solicitor specialising in Corporate and Sport Litigation. She currently works for a leading Yorkshire firm renowned for its national and international expertise in the Sport Sector.
Leon Lloyd
Leon Lloyd was appointed to the RFU Disciplinary Panel in September 2016. He played professional rugby for Leicester Tigers, Gloucester, Barbarians and England over a 15-year period. He is also a member of the EPCR and World Rugby Disciplinary Panels.
Manjinder Nagra
Proudly wearing the Red Rose while representing England Students at the University of Bath in the 90's, Manjinder stands as the first Sikh and Asian woman to have played English representative rugby. With over three decades of immersion in the rugby world, having played for country, county and club, Manjinder remains an impassioned coach, referee and mentor. Recognising the pivotal role of sports in empowering young girls, she founded Hove Girls Rugby in 2016. Beyond the field Manjinder currently serves on the Sussex RFU Disciplinary Panel and is on the Students' RFU EDI Advisory Board. Manjinder is a practising local government lawyer in Sussex and also President of the Sussex Law Society (2023/2024). Manjinder is now a proud advocate for British Asian Women in Rugby.
Mark Langley
A former 2ndRow/Flanker and forwards Coach with 30+ years experience in senior rugby, Mark started his career in Wales with Bridgend and then Swansea before moving to Saracens in 1990. He played 120+ first team games finishing at the end of the first season of the professional era in 1997. He joined London Welsh and was 1st Team Forwards Coach for 10 seasons before moving to Old Albanians in National Leagues as Forwards Coach for 9 seasons. He has been a Panel member since 2016.
Martyn Wood
A former professional player with Wasps and Bath, Martyn has been involved with RFU discipline panels for over 10 years. He also sits for EPCR and World Rugby.
Matt Wray
Matt played rugby at school in the North of England before joining the Army and representing various Regimental / Unit sides. Still serving, much of his career was spent in the South of England where he refereed up to Regional 2 level and completed the England Rugby Advanced Match Official Award. Still actively refereeing, he has officiated in the Jason Leonard Under 20 County Competition, and Inter-service or other service representative fixtures for the Army and UK Armed Forces. A panel member for the Army and Dorset and Wiltshire, he was the Army's Discipline Secretary for 4 years before assuming the Chair role in September 2024.
Matthew Hearsum
Matthew is a Solicitor-Advocate, Mediator and Arbitrator specialising in property litigation. He has played in the Front Row for 30 years and plays for Old Emanuel RFC and referees at grass-roots level with the London Society. Matthew Joined the Disciplinary Panel in 2020.
Meg Gardiner Boiling
Meg qualified as a solicitor in 2010 and worked in financial services regulation for 7 years before starting a career as a Bursar. She started playing rugby in 2007 whilst at university, representing Cambridge in two Varsity Matches, and went onto play rugby at level 3 of the women's game. Injury has meant that she has now retired but she has been an RFU Disciplinary Panel Member since 2013.
Miles Benjamin
Miles played wing in the Premiership for 10 years with Worcester Warriors and Leicester Tigers. He also represented England U20s at a Junior World Cup and gained a number of caps for England Saxons. After retiring in 2016, Miles completed a law degree. He is now a practising solicitor at an international law firm.
Mitchell Read
Mitch is a former professional player for Leicester Tigers, where he represented the club in both the Premiership and European cup competitions. Since his retirement he has remained in the game and has coached (Level 2 qualified) at Championship level, through to Midlands 2. Mitch joined the RFU panel in 2018 and then in 2019 he was selected to sit as a panel member for EPCR.
Nicola Haywood
Nicola Haywood is a solicitor who has practised criminal law for over 25 years and has experience sitting on a variety of disciplinary panels. She played rugby throughout her university years.
Oliver Kohn
Olly is a retired pro rugby player, best known for his time as a lock with Harlequins in the English Premiership. Kohn started his professional career at Bristol Rugby before joining Harlequins in 2006. He spent seven successful seasons with the club, helping them win the 2012 Premiership title. Kohn was called up to the Welsh national team in 2013, earning his only cap during the Six Nations Championship. After retiring due to injury, he pursued a business career in the food industry. He is the Co-Founder of The Jolly Hog.
Rebecca Harris
Rebecca Harris is an independent barrister specialising in crime, regulatory law and professional discipline. She has been a member of the RFU’s disciplinary panel since 2014 and a member of the RFU’s specialist safeguarding panel since its inception in 2016. Rebecca’s brother played rugby professionally for over 10 years, and she remains actively involved with the game. She is a member of her local club, has two boys who play age-grade rugby for school and club, and a now adult son who plays BUCS rugby.
Sir Richard Snowden
Sir Richard was a referee for over 37 years, first in Yorkshire and then Eastern Counties and reaching the RFU “A” List. He also coached mini and youth rugby at Crowborough RFC for over ten years. He was appointed a High Court Judge in 2015 and a Lord Justice of the Court of Appeal in 2021 and has been a Disciplinary Panel member since 2016.
Richard Stubbs
Richard is a barrister, mediator, and Recorder in the Crown Court, appointed to the North Eastern Circuit. Richard's playing days are over but he continues to be actively involved in rugby as Vice Chair of Northumberland Rugby Disciplinary Panel, a part time coach to both his sons' mini rugby teams and as a fan of the game.
Rory Holmes
Rory is a civil/common law barrister practising from Chambers in London. He specialises in personal injury (both domestic and international), product liability, clinical negligence, and Inquests. He played representative rugby at school, played for Cambridge University 1st XV and for the U21s in the Varsity match. He also represented England in the Universities XV. He spent a season playing semi-professional rugby in Spain’s first division for a team based in Madrid whilst studying there and away from rugby, also boxed for Cambridge University.
Ryan Adams
Ryan is a qualified (non-practising) solicitor and advisor across sports, media and entertainment industries. Experienced in sports disciplinary matters across a number of sports including Boxing, MMA, Football and Rugby. He is the former, Head of Legal for the United Rugby Championship, where he led and prosecuted as the Disciplinary Officer on a number of matters (concerning both on and off-field offences).
Scott MacKechnie
Scott is a former senior police detective and is now an adult and child safeguarding partnership chair and scrutineer for various local authority areas. He played and captained teams in the Scottish premiership, as well as playing age group and senior representative rugby. Upon moving to England, he played and coached national league rugby, as well as leading and then coaching Hampshire County.
Serena Stirling
Serena is a physiotherapist and NHS Board Director, specialising in governance, risk and assurance. Serena has had a front row playing career, at both provincial and international levels for Ulster and Ireland, which was cut short by multiple knee injuries.
Siobhan Walsh
Siobhan joined the RFU disciplinary panel in 2013 as an Anti-Doping disciplinary panel member. She now sits on the main Judicial Panel as well as the British Canoeing and Boxing England Judicial Panels. Outside of sports, Siobhan is a clinical negligence defence lawyer and Lecturer in Law for several institutions.
Tim Grey
Tim is a barrister practising in sport, disciplinary and regulatory law. Tim works across the healthcare, education, legal services and financial services sectors, as well as in sports including cycling, horse racing, football and Paralympic and Olympic sports. He is currently a member of the Judicial Board of British Cycling and sits as a Panel Chair for the Judicial Panel of the British Horseracing Authority.
Tim has sat on the RFU Judicial Panel for a number of years and brings his legal experience as well as rugby experience gained in the amateur game over 30 years, to the role. Tim has coached minis and junior Rugby and whilst he has now hung up his boots he remains an avid watcher and supporter of the game.
Tim Ward KC
Tim is a practising barrister and joint Head of Chambers at Monckton Chambers in London. He has wide experience in competition, public and regulatory law. He has been a member of the RFU Disciplinary Panel since 2013. He is also member of the FA Disciplinary Panel and acts as a sports arbitrator.
Timothy Swinson
Tim is a former international rugby player who represented Scotland and played for Newcastle Falcons, Glasgow Warriors, and Saracens. He is a law graduate who founded Scotland’s players association in 2016- Rugby Players Scotland.
Tom Rees
Tom played for London Wasps and England. After retiring through injury he trained as a doctor and now works as a GP.
Tony Wheat
Tony is a former player, coach and Director of Rugby at national league level and has been an RFU panel member since 2014. Additionally, he is a panel member for IRFU, URC and EPCR. He is also a World Rugby qualified Match Commissioner.
Veryan Boscawen
Veryan is a member of the RFU Professional Game Match Officials Team, having refereed on the RFU National Panel since 2013. He played, coached and led competitions administration at Durham University and joined the RFU Disciplinary Panel in 2020.
Vicky Irwin
Vicky played in the Allianz Premier 15s for Sale Sharks. Her playing career started at Liverpool Hope University where she gained an undergraduate degree in Sport and Childhood Studies. She embarked on her coaching and refereeing qualifications as she took employment with Sharks Community Trust coaching across the North West.
Wilson Horne
Wilson is a practicing barrister in England and Northern Ireland with extensive experience of commercial / regulatory disputes in a wide variety of professional sports. He has sat as a RFU disciplinary panel member since 2020. He has played rugby at school, university and club level.
