Competitive team sport would be mere recreation without those who uphold the laws of the game. Proudly supported by the London Society of Rugby Football Union Referees (LSRFUR), 16 teams descend on St Joseph's Schools Rugby Festival for a weekend of fierce competition. The high quality, fast paced rugby showcases the very best of the next generation, is combined with the developing talent of the oldest and largest rugby refereeing society in the world to create a unique spectacle across three days of competition.
There’s no doubt that the players’ aspirations and preparation date back months, if not years, but this is no different for the referees. After all, the selection process for them is also rigorous and requires the same amount of application and diligence to get run out on the hallowed turf after seasons of observation and assessment. To facilitate the top level of sport, you must have the best available match officials who not only have a top understanding of the game, but also the character and confidence to manage the big occasion.
With some 125 years of service to the sport of Rugby Football Union, the London Society have been a consistent and valued partner of the tournament for decades. This is not only due to the calibre of officials they appoint, but also because of the shared values between the Society and St Joseph’s College. Between both bodies, there is over 200 years of the development of young sports people. Not only have they impacted some of the game’s biggest stars, but they have instilled a lasting love of rugby in many, a cornerstone of sport at St Joseph’s College.
The cauldron of schoolboy rugby theatre that looms down on Ipswich for this historic weekend in October prepared athletes for life in rugby at the highest level. The stage, for referees, serves exactly the same purpose and we do not doubt that many of those who take charge of the whistle for these colossal fixtures will be seen in elite level and possibly international settings before long.
