As you will know “abuse of a match official” is a serious offence within rugby union. This season the incidence of such offences has increased to the extent that over 50% of cases dealt with by Leicestershire Discipline panels have been for such offences.
As stated at the Leicestershire General Meeting held last evening the Referees Society are greatly concerned that their members may walk away because of the abuse and they have stated that if any club becomes a serial offender they may refuse to supply referees to them.

Leicestershire Discipline panel members are also concerned about this increase and are increasingly punishing such charges with harsher sentences where cases are proved. Where serial offences are committed within any club, that club may find themselves with other punishments which in serious cases could be either financial penalties or in the worst cases the deduction of league points. Both of these outcomes are within the punishments available to CB Discipline Panels.

The purpose of this letter is to ensure that all members of your club, whether they be committee members, team managers, coaches, acting touch judges, players or for that matter spectators, are aware of the consequences of abusing match officials and the seriousness of those consequences.

I trust that your club will co-operate on this matter to bring to an end this escalating problem within the game.

PLEASE ENSURE THAT THIS LETTER IS DISTRIBUTED WIDELY WITHIN YOUR CLUB AND PLACED ON SUITABLE NOTICE BOARDS WHERE IT CAN BE SEEN.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Green
Chair of Discipline & Governance and
Panel Chairman
Leicestershire Rugby Union