In response to IANH on another thread -
Over the past two weeks I have refereed many school tournaments at all ages and skill levels - last night's involved six teams and there were insufficient rugby players between them to form one team, but what they lacked in skill, they more than made up for in enthusiasm so well done to the various teachers involved!
However, at every tournament there has been at least one and in several cases, more than one, player wearing leggings. Whenever a player doing so has walked onto my pitch I have insisted on their removal before we kicked off. However, the common retort that no-one else insists on so doing by player and coach has been backed up in conversations with fellow referees at these tournaments.
The most common comment from the referees is that leggings are not banned - see various replies above! - but a response that is increasing rapidly is that no-one else bothers so why should I?
These comments come from referees from the North Mids, Staffs and Warks Societies!
However, it does have some effect. At one school tournament, I spoke in passing to a player lounging about and told him that if I was to referee him that day, he would not be allowed to play in the leggings he was wearing. Three hours later, I refereed him in a semi-final and made him remove them. Two days later, I refereed the same player in another tournament and he made a point of coming over to me and pointing out his lack of leggings. His teacher later informed me that his team mates had burnt them, on the mini-bus, on the way home from the first tournament!!!!!!
I was informed at one tournament that leggings were worn for medical reasons but no proof was forthcoming. It was that particular team's final match of the day and the result was unimportant to the tournament, so I let it go, stupidly! At another tournament, he duly showed up without the leggings - I had a very constructive discussion with the teacher concerned and the organisers from the first tournament who were also there made an official complaint to the school concerned to which I was copied!
NM