Schools Referee Programme

We recently spoke to Limerick Community Rugby Officer Kenneth McNamara and St Munchin's College students Thomas O'Brien and Paddy O'Driscoll at a National School blitz in Thomond Park where they discussed the benefits of the Schools Referee Programme.

The programme sees Transition Year and Fifth Year students from schools throughout the province complete the online IRFU Affiliate Referee course in addition to an in-person regional course. This season, due to high demand, two regional courses took place in Cork and Limerick.

Once the courses are completed, the referees can officiate a match in their own school at an age below their own. 31 students took part in the programme in 2022/23 and it has increased to 89 for the current season.