Time flies...

[Lee Lifeson-Peart]

It's 25 years ago yesterday since I played my last game of "proper" Rugby. I broke my thumb and hurt my back in the first tackle of the game and came off vowing never to play again. I didn't (sort of). I was 35. Ironically my club went into a tailspin thereafter and we dropped from L6/L7 to the bottom of the Yorkshire Leagues to recover to L9 today but have never recovered to the dizzy height between 87 and 98 when were were at L6/7. We started off in 1987 in the same League as Rotherham & Wharfedale and higher than Doncaster.

I had two token run outs with may lads when thy were 17 just to say I'd done it. They're nearly 32 and 29 so it's 12 years since I last ran around "in anger".

I made a point of not going to watch when I finished as I knew I'd get drawn back in. I bided my time 'til the lads wanted to play and then I came back and that's when the refereeing started. At 42 I was too old to "make a go of it" but I'm at L6 at 60 and managing a bit of refereeing and NLMOT ARing.

That all sounded like some sort of obituary. Apologies.

I'm still reasonably fit and still enjoying the bit of the Rugby Universe I inhabit.

 

[crossref]

L6 at 60 is not to be sniffed at

 

[Ciaran Trainor]

Similar scenario for me. Came home with my arm in a sling at 42 and 'er indoors said "is that it then?" "yep it really hurts" was my reply. (tuned out I'd only bruised my shoulder after xrays!)
3 weeks later reffed my first game.
Pretty much always operated at L7 though have done a number of L6 over the years and even a L5 2 years ago when the weather was so bad no other ref could make it to the ground!
Sneaked a few games in after my retirement to get over 200 1stXV games in for my club and manged to play for the King Penguins at York when 55 which was a great experience.
As LLP still reasonably fit and enjoying my rugby and social life in Cumbria at 63

 

[crossref]

My path was via junior rugby .. the dad-who-refs.
In my son's age group there were about 5 dads who wanted to coach, and no one who wanted to ref, so ....

So I was a very late starter into the society : I was 50 when I joined and this is my last season in my 50s, gulp

 

[OB..]

I played until I was 66 (never at a high level) and gave up when my knees did. Just at that time the RFU introduced a scheme for fast tracking "experienced players" into refereeing - a former team mate was by then Chairman of the local referee society, so I joined. As a player I had always made sure I knew the laws and I ended up as a "safe pair of hands" at L7 with the occasional excursion to L6.

As an adviser -> assessor -> Match Observer or whatever it was called at the time I roamed the touch line to get the best view of play, but eventually, with two replacement knees, I reluctantly had to stop.

 

[Dickie E]

I played until I was 66 (never at a high level) and gave up when my knees did. Just at that time the RFU introduced a scheme for fast tracking "experienced players" into refereeing - a former team mate was by then Chairman of the local referee society, so I joined. As a player I had always made sure I knew the laws and I ended up as a "safe pair of hands" at L7 with the occasional excursion to L6.

As an adviser -> assessor -> Match Observer or whatever it was called at the time I roamed the touch line to get the best view of play, but eventually, with two replacement knees, I reluctantly had to stop.

played until 66 then started reffing??? Wow ... impressive

 

[OB..]

played until 66 then started reffing??? Wow ... impressive

 

[OB..]

My mistake - I refereed a few games when my club didn't have a ref appointed, but I was fast tracked into assessing rather than regular refereeing. (Much less impressive!)

 

[SimonSmith]

Started refereeing in 94 when my doctor advised that the next concussion would be "really pretty serious" (my, how we laughed last March!)

Back then, it was grab a law book, and best of luck.

 

[DocP]

I am technically still available for selection at my club (only a mere 42) but I think I'm hanging those boots up for definite at the end of the season. (I say that every year)

First match I reffed was my own club's A XV when the society didn't have anyone to appoint. I was out shopping with the misses at the time when I got the call. Bought a refs kit from Sports Direct which had a watch, whistle and some cards. I wasn't even sure if I was even allowed to referee but it turned out that the Society's appointments guy and highly regarded coaches was at my club helping a young referee. He gave me the all clear so I jumped into my car and drove to the fixture (it was an away game). It went well. I did one more for my own club which was a different bag (lots of back chat etc where I almost lost my rag). Didn't put me off it though.

At the end of that season or may have been the next I signed up for the RFU Refs course and joined the society who welcomed me with open arms. Real good bunch. Loving it. Having a great time visiting clubs I hadn't been to for a very long time. Set my sights on reaching Level 8 and then I'll asses where I go from there. As a FR player, sometimes, mobility can be an issue

 

[dickell]

I am technically still available for selection at my club (only a mere 42) but I think I'm hanging those boots up for definite at the end of the season. (I say that every year)

First match I reffed was my own club's A XV when the society didn't have anyone to appoint. I was out shopping with the misses at the time when I got the call. Bought a refs kit from Sports Direct which had a watch, whistle and some cards. I wasn't even sure if I was even allowed to referee but it turned out that the Society's appointments guy and highly regarded coaches was at my club helping a young referee. He gave me the all clear so I jumped into my car and drove to the fixture (it was an away game). It went well. I did one more for my own club which was a different bag (lots of back chat etc where I almost lost my rag). Didn't put me off it though.

At the end of that season or may have been the next I signed up for the RFU Refs course and joined the society who welcomed me with open arms. Real good bunch. Loving it. Having a great time visiting clubs I hadn't been to for a very long time. Set my sights on reaching Level 8 and then I'll asses where I go from there. As a FR player, sometimes, mobility can be an issue

Doc P, as an FRer you are worth your weight in gold. Keep going!

 

[dickell]

As a former fullback I was clueless about the front row, but feedback in the bar told me that I got a few right! Ditto when I penalised a Quins team for a deliberate knock-on at a lineout close to their opponents' line. Their profound silence told me I'd got it right.

 

[SimonSmith]

As a former fullback I was clueless about the front row, but feedback in the bar told me that I got a few right! Ditto when I penalised a Quins team for a deliberate knock-on at a lineout close to their opponents' line. Their profound silence told me I'd got it right.

It was shock that somone had the temerity to penalize Quins.

 

[SimonSmith]

Remember @Lee Lifeson-Peart, to qiote Chairman Humph, time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana

 

[Lee Lifeson-Peart]

Remember @Lee Lifeson-Peart, to qiote Chairman Humph, time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana

Don't. I'll use it as an excuse to regurgitate all the best Lionel Blairs.

 

[SimonSmith]

Don't. I'll use it as an excuse to regurgitate all the best Lionel Blairs.

Before or after he pulled off the Pirates of Penzance?

 

[Lee Lifeson-Peart]

Una Stubbs looked on aghast as Lionel, his hands a blur, finished off Twelve Angry Men.