Ulster Rugby vs Cheetahs

USRFR REFEREEQ&A IANORR

WELCOME We welcome Mike Adamson and his team of officials to the Kingspan Stadium this evening. As always, we ask that everyone respects the referees' decisions and that you keep your shouting and roaring for supporting your team!

Tell us a little bit about your rugby background?

What is your favourite thing about refereeing? I enjoy the interaction with coaches and players before, during and after the match. I enjoy seeing good rugby being played and get satisfaction for the fact that I am in some small way a part of that. What is your ambition as a referee? I have always believed in performing to the very best of my ability. My ambition for every game I referee is to facilitate a safe and competitive game which hopefully the thirty odd guys playing have enjoyed. Who is your favourite referee and why? My favourite referee is Nigel Owens, I feel that he has used his personality and communication skills to form an excellent rapport with the players and coaches. What advice would you give to someone thinking about taking up refereeing? I would encourage any person young or old to take up refereeing. I have found it a very positive and enjoyable experience to date and have received great support and advice from officials, mentors and assessors within the USRFR. I just wish I had made the decision 10 years ago! I would also just like to thank the club community in Ulster as a whole as I have been given a warm welcome and have been respected at every venue I have officiated at by club officials, players and supporters.

I attended Foyle and Londonderry College and was part of the 1987 side which reached the Schools' Cup Semi-final. I joined City of Derry from school and played for the 1st XV for twenty years. I was part of the side that won the Ulster League and Cup double in 1999. I then coached various age grades for 6 years at Foyle College before becoming part of the senior coaching squad with City of Derry RFC last year. Why did you decide to take up the whistle? Whilst coaching I completed the affiliate referee course which allows you to referee matches for your club and/or school. I found that I really enjoyed doing this so becoming a fully qualified referee seemed like the next logical step. How did you actually become a referee? I saw an advertisement on the Ulster Rugby website looking for new referees and registered an interest. I attended a one day course and several workshops which prepared me for the role. I then shared refereeing a match with an experienced referee before ‘graduating’ to referee on my own. As a trial referee I was exposed to several levels of rugby and underwent two assessments before being upgraded by the USRFR to my current position as a full member. What is the most important thing you have learned since you started refereeing? The most important thing I have learned is that I am on the field to facilitate a game not to dictate it. The tools that help me to do this successfully are my fitness, my communication skills, my knowledge of the Laws and the general experience I have gained from being a player, coach and referee.

If you are interested in refereeing, please contact Richard Kerr (Referee Development Manager). Email: richard.kerr@irfu.ie Tel: 07493 868388

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