Rugby Africa pushing to broaden knowledge of women match officials

By ANA Sports On Jun 10, 2021

Rugb Africa broadening knowledge of women match officials

Uganda women's rugby players in action — Uganda women’s rugby players in action. Picture credit: Uganda Rugby Union

JOHANNESBURG, June 10 (ANA) – Rugby Africa on Wednesday announced its plan to expand the knowledge of women match officials on the continent through a new online course for referees.

Referee Manager at Rugby Africa Mudiwa Mundawarara said: “This is a World Rugby level two course for match officiating.

“As such it will follow the course outline as prescribed by World Rugby which includes game management, planning, technical aspects of the game and fitness. It involves 8 weeks of online theoretical sessions followed by in-country practical sessions with local educators and trainers.”

Mundawarara said the course is run by Alhambra Nievas, World Rugby Referee Talent Development Manager, supported by six accredited match officiating educators from across Africa, all women. At the end of the course, the successful candidates will be accredited by World Rugby as having attained level two match officiating. This is a standard worldwide qualification.

Mundawarara said: “This course is aimed at women and girls across the continent with a World Rugby Level 1 match officiating certificate.

“We received nominees from Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia & Zimbabwe. We would have welcomed referees from further afield, but these are the countries from which we received nominations this time.”

The main aim of the Referee Department of Rugby Africa is to accelerate the development of women’s rugby, and officiating is one of the main areas of focus.

Rugby Africa referee committee member Peris Mukoko said: The online theory session has brought together a mixed pot of what Africa has to offer for women in the match officiating front that we aim to increase within the continent.

“So far, the course has covered a series of key areas of match officiating from preparation, technical aspect, teamwork, and the importance of involvement of everyone in the game of rugby.”

Mukoko said the the course continues to bring out the overall objective of the Women and girls’ involvement in rugby from the match officiating front in their home countries and the pathway it creates to Rugby Africa and eventually to World rugby as they focus closely on implementing the World Rugby Women’s strategic plan. – African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Michael Sherman