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Tom Chick

They have the best view in the house, are right in the thick of it and we all think we could do it better – I’m talking about referees of course. But what makes them tick? Lets takes a comprehensive look at the men in the middle in the 7s game.

This weekend saw London Irish win the 84th Middlesex Sevens, Belmont Shore win the US Nationals and with Satala, Stanford, et al strutting their stuff.

But did anyone see Keith Lewis at the weekend?

An immediate and obvious response is probably ‘no’. And moreover who is Keith Lewis?! Like any good referee he managed to keep under the radar but if you were lucky enough to be at Twickenham to witness Irish’s first ever Middlesex Sevens title you most certainly might have caught a glimpse.

7s brings networks of refs

Lewis was there as one of 45 referees and assistant referees – without whom the Charity event would not have been able to take place – and he explains why he and the others keep being coming back to the historical event at HQ.

“It’s a great opportunity that I have loved being involved with over the last six years – firstly as an assistant referee and now as a referee. It is a great day for us all and with over 40 officials involved there is a real team ethic.

“We don’t often get to say that as referees so it is always a great day,” said Lewis who kindly popped up to the gantry to see UR7s during their live text commentary.

A Rugby Sevens referee will always have a difficult job on their hands. Like in 15s a lot of players towering over them in height and width but an obvious factor must be keeping up with the pace of the game. But they demand respect – something a sport like football could learn a lot from – and while there may be certain differences between the refereeing of Sevens in comparisons to the 15-a-side format, this respect remains.

“Apart from the law differences, the main difference is obviously the space available for players to do the playing, so we play lots of advantage, but for shorter time. In the majority of occasions, possession in Sevens is deemed to be advantage enough,” said Lewis.

“Refereeing the breakdown is still the crucial element, especially as the opportunity for turnover ball is high. The other main difference is our positioning.

“We tend to get onto the defence line more in 7s than 15s and this means we can stay out of the way of attacking moves, but aren’t too far away from the action. Unless there’s an intercept – in which case it is sprint time!

“But I think the respect is there whichever the format is. In Sevens, there are naturally fewer decisions to make, but they are crucial so we have to make sure we get it right every time.”

One of the refereeing highlights at Middlesex had to be when Wayne Barnes, the youngest ever referee to be appointed to the Panel of National Referees at 21, whacked out his red card for the only time that afternoon to an oncoming streaker performing cartwheels!

Just as Irish used the tournament to gain momentum and fitness heading into the new season, Lewis and his fellow referees used it as a chance to showcase their abilities as a referee – and of course they like to look and smell the part.

“We have high standards in London Society and as well as looking our best, one of our members always make sure we smell right as we enter the field from the tunnel at HQ. Helpfully it normally involves Coco Channel or whatever he has stolen from his wife that morning!”

Lewis along with guys like Barnes are together a younger more dynamic breed of referees that are starting to evolve in rugby. Yet although there may be times for a laugh they are deeply professional in their performance and preparation.

As ever they are the cogs that make the wheels spin, the gravy on your Sunday dinner, an integral part of our game. Just as all successful sportsmen and women, referees must prepare physically, psychologically and emotionally for every match.

Despite having two assistant referees, as they are now known, to signal when the ball has travelled out of play, to indicate the success of kicks at goal, or to indicate when a major infringement has occurred, the final decision and consequences are decided by the referee.

Like the rugby players in front of them they too can come in for all sorts of criticism from the fans, the media and the players, because they have this outright control of the match.

With last year’s ELV’s meaning there was even more to debate than normal, it’s still a common occurrence for referees in 7s to get asked ‘what he is doing’ or ‘where his glasses are’ by the crowd and perhaps not in those exact words.

Unlike the long twists and turns of the 80 minute game though, his performances are magnified in the abbreviated format and in the condensed time-frame.

We have to remember that referees are not just those that we hear about in the media too; the Alain Rolland’s, the Wayne Barnes’, Fiji Sports Personality of the year James Bolabiu or the 74th most recognised face in Japan, Taizo Hirabayashi!

Grassroots rugby key for development

Just as rugby continues from international all the way through to grassroots and provides a ladder for players to develop, so too is the case for referees.

Take the UK’s John Holden who referees at Level 10, in Hampshire 1, the league below London 4.
He also oversees junior, senior, women’s and Sevens matches and in turn knows the scene inside out as a refereeing specialist – though of course he prefers the Sevens events.

“I enjoy Sevens tournaments because they're good fun, usually held when the weather is fine, and a social as well as a sporting occasion - there's time to meet old friends between matches. You see some great players and exciting competition,” said Holden.

“It's easier to see what's going wrong in 7s - less bodies in the way. So when there is an offence, penalise it, particularly when it results in possession for the offending side.

“National 7s are my highlight, and at the end of the season at my own club, the Petersfield Pub 7s which I used to help run in its early years – now I'm too busy with the whistle.”

Referees should not be taken for granted. It is something if I were younger, I would consider, but the steps are in place for anyone who wants to begin a career as a referee at every level.

Chasing the Olympic dream

“Sevens refereeing has been on the agenda for the monthly training meetings held by the Hampshire society in recent years - usually it comes up in February or March, just in time for the year's end-of-season tournaments.

“Once you have started refereeing there is a development pathway for referees. Each step along the pathway is supported by an award course," added Holden.

With the Olympic decision going Rugby Sevens’ way on Thursday and the all-important next step coming in October, it is not just the player’s that have sat up and taken note with Keith Lewis having one last thing to say recognising that referees too will see it as the pinnacle of their career.

“7s has traditionally been used as a training ground for up and coming elite referees and I don’t see the Olympics changing that. What it would do is maybe give more referees an incentive to get to the level required so we could potentially be involved with the Olympics – it is certainly on my wish list.”