What an unexpected and unforgettable way to kick off my 10th season refereeing for the London Society — my very first pre-season friendly turned out to be my first international fixture!
I was appointed to referee an uncapped friendly between Jamaica (ranked 61 in the world) and Norway (ranked 100), hosted at Chiswick RFC. The Society even awarded the match a Team of Three, so I had the pleasure of working alongside Simon Kelly and Livia Branga.
As it wasn’t a capped match, there were no national anthems, but before kick-off we observed a minute’s silence in memory of Jamaican player Brendan McMillan, who was tragically murdered in London just a couple of weeks ago.
The game was played in three 30-minute thirds, as both coaches were keen to give their squads plenty of time on the field. The scores at each break were:
1️⃣ Jamaica 21 – Norway 12
2️⃣ Jamaica 33 – Norway 31
3️⃣ Jamaica 57 – Norway 38 (Full Time)
It was a fantastic match played in great spirit. Our team of three worked seamlessly, and having the full comms kit made a huge difference. Afterwards, both squads looked after us brilliantly, even presenting each of us with a Norwegian tie as a post-match gift.
When I first picked up a whistle, I never imagined I’d be in the middle of an international fixture. This experience has renewed my energy and excitement for the season ahead — proof that in refereeing, you never quite know where the journey will take you.