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Following UR7s’ delve into the murky waters of refereeing in Sevens last week, we were contacted by Pat McNally - National Sevens Referee Manager for USA Rugby. We thought it would be a perfect opportunity to survey and compare the landscape for ‘refs’ in the US compared to the UK. ‘Paddy Mac’ seemed the perfect brain to pick...

Hi Pat, thanks for speaking to UR7s

No worries, thanks guys. 

It would be interesting to hear your views on refereeing Sevens and 15s compared to the other refs we spoke to. What do you see as the main differences?

Speed, speed and more speed! In Sevens, the pace of play in Sevens is quicker (quick penalty taps, quick lineouts, etc) and therefore speed and fitness are more critical than in XVs. Stamina is also vital due to the start/stop/start nature of tournament play.

There is no warming up in Sevens, or waiting for teams to establish a rhythm. Not as much time to establish your management style with a team, like you can in XVs. Sevens is very immediate, and you must be ready to match that pace and intensity.

Sevens can be a great introduction to refereeing because there are fewer players to watch over and the lines of sight are clearer.

Physically there must be some obvious differences in the two games for a referee? 

Yes, the type of fitness/stamina required in Sevens is different because of the gaps in the day’s play. Stretching and flexibility are more important for a Sevens referees. Stretching during a Sevens tournament is very important, pre-game (dynamic) and post-game (static).

Does a referees training differ in the build up to a Sevens tournament?

Referees need power-based speed in Sevens more than XVs. At the elite level, the players playing Sevens are likely to be faster than any referee refereeing Sevens. That means that a referee needs every bit of their speed backed by stamina.

Mental preparation is different too. Instead of preparing for a single match and only two teams, in Sevens you must be able to stay sharp for multiple contests and a half dozen teams during the day.

How is Sevens used in America for referees? Is it a development tool or used in its own entity?

Sevens is used to develop referees in America. We definitely look to the IRB as an organisational model we want to follow. The IRB develops promising (usually young and athletic) referees within a four-year cycle (RWC Sevens), then they graduate to elite XVs or they go home.

With the advantage of first hand experience with international Sevens at the USA Sevens Tournament, and the opportunities being created by the Championship Cup Series, we will continue to see the further development of young and promising referees in Sevens in the US.

Quality of play often goes hand in hand with quality of refereeing, at this present time where do you believe the USA stands in quality of refereeing and is this influencing/affecting the quality of the game itself?

There is a correlation between the level of play and the quality of refereeing, and I don’t believe you can separate the two or judge one independent of the other; we both exist in the same environment. Some of our referees have received international recognition in Sevens, Chris Draper and Dana Teagarden. We will continue to work towards building the width and the depth of our referee pool.

Do USA rugby encourage up and coming refs to spend time on the Sevens circuit?

Absolutely. One of the many benefits of traveling across the country to watch referees at Sevens tournaments during the summer season is the opportunity to see and work with new and potential talent. This can help get them on the radar and targeted for future development. Sevens offers a chance for promising referees to work on their basics and get some hands on coaching.

Is there more respect for refs in a Sevens arena?

Personally, I found that over time it’s more or less equal. Like XVs, we have to work hard to earn the player’s respect, but you are probably found out more quickly in Sevens (no gas, no love). Because there are fewer players, you do get to know them quicker and vice versa.

What is the difference between the player/referee relationship in the shortened forms of the games?

In XVs, there is 80 minutes to build a relationship with players and their captain, as opposed to 14 minutes for Sevens. There are more stoppages in a XV match, where referees can 'work' during the dead ball. In Sevens it is two words instead of a full explanation, a quick look instead of a demonstration. But there are still line-outs, scrums, tries and restarts to get your point across.

At the end of the day, if you work hard, do a good job and treat people with respect, you will earn theirs.

If 7s does get Olympic status will we be seeing high profile 15s refs wanting to get back into 7s?

I am sure every rugby referee would love to referee at the Olympics, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Mr. Rolland and Mr. Kaplan, and others, have publicly voiced their support for rugby’s re-introduction to the Olympic Games. But ultimately, it will be up to the IRB to appoint the most qualified referees to the Olympics, (we’re almost there).

With commercial avenues and more money increasingly coming into 7s, what impact might this have on referees?

I don’t believe that there are any plans to train referees for Sevens only and the IRB will continue to appoint referees to the Sevens World Series to develop them for possible promotion to elite XVs. At the present time, there are no 'specialist' Sevens referees.

The IRB is devoting resources to develop referees to successfully manage the increase in demand due to Sevens rising popularity. Keith Lawrence, former NZRU HP Referee Manager, is managing all eight SWS Tournaments and providing some continuity throughout the SWS (a first), and from a well-respected source.

In the States, the USA Sevens, the Championship Cup Series, the National Club 7s Championship season, and the Women’s CBL all present expanded opportunities for refereeing Sevens. Working with USA Sevens and others, we hope to convince sponsors to help underwrite our two largest expenses, airfare and accommodations. This impact would be very positive by limiting Tournament’s costs, expanding the pool of qualified referees, and sending our best (and most promising) 7s referees to the top tournaments.