Ulster Schools' Cup FInal

MAN IN THE MIDDLE DAN CARSON Tell us about your refereeing experience? I started refereeing in 2014. After a successful spell on IPAS (Inter-Provincial Assessment Scheme) in 2016, I was selected onto the National Referee B Panel and a year later was promoted to the National Referees A Panel. In 2016 I was honoured to be voted Ulster Referee of the Year and am currently refereeing in Division 1 of the All Ireland League. How did you first get into refereeing? I was coaching rugby at Down High School and consequently refereeing a lot of schools matches. The Master in Charge of rugby there, Charlie Knox, suggested that I should pursue a pathway in refereeing - which probably says equally as much about my playing abilities - and I haven’t looked back since. What are the key skills required to be a good referee? I feel it is very important to have empathy with the players you are officiating as well as an understanding of what they are trying to achieve. There is such a degree of interpretation within the laws of the game that it is vital a referee can make common sense decisions while enforcing the laws of the game, so strong communication skills are also vitally important. Despite what people may think referees are not robots, so being able to get your point across to players and coaches in a calm, clear and concise manner helps gain credibility with regards to the decisions you make. The Schools’ Cup Final is one of the most eagerly anticipated games of the domestic rugby season. How do you feel about being the man in the middle? Obviously I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to referee the Schools’ Cup Final. It’s a great privilege to be involved in such a showpiece event. I think it’s an

aspiration for all referees to be in charge of a Schools’ Cup Final so for it to happen to me so early in my referee career is an honour and I am determined to do myself and the occasion justice. What different challenges do you face when looking ahead to such a high profile game? I suppose one of the biggest challenges will be just how much it means to the respective schools, their staff and especially the players. With the game being live on BBC and a big crowd in Kingspan Stadium, the challenge for a referee is to be a calming influence for those on the pitch in order for everyone to give a good account of themselves. How do you prepare for a game like this? The same as I would for any other game. Something I have learned since joining the National Referee Panel is that the more preparation you put in beforehand the better equipped you are to deal with each game. I will be aiming to do the same training, video analysis and self-review as I normally would as well as some specific planning on what this game will present and how I will achieve the best outcomes. Which referees do you admire most? There are a number of former professional Irish referees that I have a great deal of admiration for – Dudley Phillips, David Wilkinson and Peter Fitzgibbon to name but a few. What was the favourite match you have officiated? It’s always nice to referee a game at Kingspan Stadium. I really enjoyed doing one of the Schools’ Cup semi-finals last year but my first ever game here was the McCrea Cup Final between Cooke and Malone. Finals are what all players and referees aspire to be involved in so my first ever final at Kingspan Stadium would probably have to be my favourite.

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