Ex High Wycombe player (2005-2024)
Ex High Wycombe Belles ladies manger (2018-2019)
High Wycombe colts coach (2019-2021)
Ex Buckinghamshire Referee/ Appointment Secretary (2021-2025)
Berkshire Referee (2025 - Present)
Buckinghamshire County selection Colts (2025-Present)
Prop, Hooker and second row
2021
Funny enough, becoming a referee was never part of the plan! 😂
I loved playing Rugby from the age of five, and I happily carried on until one afternoon, playing in a senior men’s game, changed everything.
We’ve all disagreed with a referee’s decision at some point, but this one took the biscuit! An opposition player punched my mate in the face and somehow got away with it… even after the referee turned around and admitted he’d seen it! 🤦♂️
Naturally, I wasn’t exactly full of praise for the decision, and my protests earned me an early shower. 🟨🚿 To be fair, I still thought I had a point!
After the game, the referee came over and gave me some advice I certainly wasn’t expecting: “If you think you can do a better job than me, go and do a refereeing course!”
Now, most people would probably have a shower, get changed and forget about it. Not me! 😂
I went straight home, booked myself onto a refereeing course that very evening, and the rest, as they say, is history!
So, technically, I owe my refereeing career to a punch, a questionable decision and a referee who probably thought he was sending me away with a lesson. Turns out, he accidentally recruited me instead! 😂
My first ever game as a rugby referee was at Aylesbury Rugby Club, and to say I was out of my depth would be a slight understatement! 😂🏉
I quickly discovered that refereeing was a very different experience from playing. For starters, nobody was trying to tackle me, I wasn't getting covered in quite as much pain, and best of all, I could actually walk the next day without making noises every time I stood up! 😂
Of course, there was one small problem… I had absolutely LOADS to learn!
Starting out as a referee is a steep learning curve. You're trying to remember the laws, keep up with play, manage 30 players, communicate confidently and somehow look like you know exactly what's going on… all while hoping nobody asks you a question you can't answer! 😅
There were plenty of moments where I had to learn on the job, make mistakes, take advice on board and remind myself that nobody becomes a good referee overnight. Confidence doesn't magically appear with the whistle, and knowing the laws is one thing; applying them in the heat of a game is another entirely!
Fast-forward to today, and I've come a long way from that first game at Aylesbury. Refereeing has taken me across the south of the country, with opportunities to officiate in Hertfordshire, Dorset, the East Midlands and Gloucestershire.
None of that progress has happened by accident. The help, encouragement, advice and patience of other referees and everyone I've met along the way have played a huge part in getting me to where I am today.
I'm still learning, still developing and still having those moments when I wonder what on earth I've let myself in for! 😂 But that's part of the journey.
Because when you start out as a referee, you're not just learning how to officiate a game of rugby. You're learning how to manage people, make decisions under pressure, deal with criticism and keep coming back for more.
And if you can survive your first few games, remember where you started and stay willing to learn, who knows where that little whistle might take you! 🏉👏
I’ve had the pleasure of refereeing some fantastic matches over the years, and choosing just a few standout moments is no easy task. There have been great games, brilliant experiences, and, of course, the occasional yellow card or two!
One of my favourite memories has to be the Bucks Cup Final between Buckingham U16s and Milton Keynes, hosted at Drifters. It was a fantastic game featuring brilliant teamwork, some excellent set pieces and, naturally, plenty of yellow cards for ill-discipline! It was a real privilege to referee a cup final, but little did I know that years later, one of those players would become one of the most talked-about names in English Premiership rugby and the England setup. That player was none other than Henry Pollock of Buckingham and Northampton Saints! Looking back, it’s fair to say I might have been refereeing a future star in the making!
Another standout moment was being given the honour of officiating the Buckinghamshire Colts vs Berkshire Colts match as part of a team of four. I don’t think I stopped smiling for the entire game! It was a brilliant experience, full of energy, teamwork and everything that makes rugby so enjoyable. It was one of those matches that reminds you exactly why you love being involved in the game.
During my time refereeing, I’ve also had the privilege of meeting some incredible names in English rugby, including Rochelle “Rocky” Clark MBE, Maggie Alphonsi (my favourite England player I’ve met!), Helena Rowland, Premiership referee Mike Hudson, Poppy Cleall and Bryony Cleall. It’s been amazing to meet people who have achieved so much in the sport. Fun fact: one of them was actually on the pitch playing in a match I officiated… and there’s a chance I may have shown them a yellow card! 🤣 I’ll leave you to guess who!
I’ve also been selected twice to serve as an assistant referee at men’s county matches, both hosted at Banbury. These were fantastic opportunities, and I thoroughly enjoyed being part of the officiating team at that level.
As for my favourite places to visit, Dunstablians RFC, Aylesbury RFC, Weymouth & Portland RFC, and, of course, my home club, High Wycombe RFC, are right up there. Every one of these clubs has amazing people who have welcomed me with open arms and made me feel at home. The rugby is great, the people are even better, and the hospitality is always appreciated!
Overall, my refereeing journey has given me some unforgettable memories, brilliant experiences and the opportunity to meet some truly inspiring people. I’ve learned a lot, had plenty of laughs, and perhaps handed out a few more yellow cards than some players would have liked! But that’s rugby — and I wouldn’t have it any other way. 🏉💛
Although rugby is never far from my mind, there is, of course, life beyond the pitch! Outside of rugby, I have the privilege of working as a Senior Learning Support Assistant in a primary school, supporting children who experience social, emotional and behavioural difficulties and who find accessing mainstream education challenging.
My role is centred around helping children build confidence, develop resilience and recognise their own potential. By providing tailored support, encouragement and a safe, nurturing environment, I aim to equip each child with the skills and self-belief they need to overcome challenges and succeed.
One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is seeing children make progress, grow in confidence and develop the independence needed to return to full-time mainstream education. Knowing that I have played a part in their journey, helping them believe in themselves and achieve things they may once have thought impossible, makes my role incredibly fulfilling.
For me, success is about so much more than academic achievement. It is about building positive relationships, celebrating small steps forward and helping every child understand that they are capable of achieving great things when given the right support and opportunities.
Love rugby? Enjoy making decisions? Don’t mind 30 players disagreeing with every single one of them? 😂 Then refereeing might just be for you!
You don’t have to know everything, just be willing to learn, grow and occasionally question your life choices after your first yellow card! 🤣
Refereeing brings incredible experiences, lifelong friendships and opportunities you never imagined.
Pick up the whistle, find your confidence and give it a go. Rugby needs you! 🏉💛
#BecomeAReferee #RugbyFamily #GiveBackToTheGame