In the rugby world today the role of the referee has become a significant and integral part of the game. No game of rugby can commence without a referee. Therefore the decision making of a referee has a huge impact on the game and with the money involved in various competitions, it is imperative that the referee should be accurate. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the game and the speed the modern game is played at, there will be mistakes, as referees are also human. The SARefs Academy endeavours to train young referees to attain a very high standard of refereeing and through that, minimize their mistakes on the field, thereby creating young, competent referees who will serve the game of rugby proudly.
The aim and purpose of the SARefs Academy is to develop and train young referees to become excellent, accurate referees and to promote refereeing as a professional part of the game. The Academy offers young rugby enthusiasts an entry into the world of professional rugby by realising the ideal of becoming a professional, career referee.
It is a myth that a player or referee can be developed in a laboratory. The development of a good referee can only be achieved through a holistic approach - having enough practical experience as well as access to high performance training facilities. The SARefs Academy together with the Maties Rugby Club offer up and coming referees these tools. This is the only institution where a referee can expect to have his pick of 26 hostel games per week, not to mention WP League and school games on weekends as well as enjoying access to the University's Gymnasium, Vision lab, and a curriculum developed specifically for referees.
The academy offers 9 months ( 1 February – 7 October) of intensive refereeing training broken into four components as set out below.
Accommodation and meals provided
