Best RugbyReferee.net Podcasts (2025)

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The Bald Ref - standing up for referees, and for mental health 43:05

Play Pause

28d ago43:05

43:05

Today, we're joined by Jonny Cartwright, who you may know as The_Bald_Ref on Instagram. He's just been recognised as Loosehead Of the Year 2025 at the Looseheadz Community Awards. We talk about: Jonny's journey from coach to referee How he develops referees in his role as T&D lead in Manchester & District Referees (MADRefs) How Looseheadz is and ho…

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The pod returns 29:57

1M ago29:57

29:57

Hi, it's Keith here and after numerous prods from you, dear listeners, it was time to get the recording device out once again. Bit of a catch up on a few things in today's episode: Women's RWC match officiating Refereeing a foul play scenario after a try Charging down a Try Line Drop out Refereeing the new open play pod lift A tricky situation for …

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Global Law Trials for 2025 22:08

12M ago22:08

22:08

In this episode, Keith talks through the announcement from World Rugby following the Council meeting on 14 November which agreed to the introduction of four Global Law Trials for new competitions/leagues after 1 January 2025. References to "previous episodes" relate to Episode 40: Ep 40 - What is going on with laws and law changes at World Rugby? W…

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Launching the brand new rugby Refereeing Journal 18:11

1y ago18:11

18:11

This episode is all about you and something I've created for you. It's the sort of thing that I never knew I needed, but now it's a real, physical thing, Im hoping it helps you and your refereeing. It can be a solitary life as a referee - often travelling on our own to matches, not seeing any advisers/coaches every week, and only monthly meetings w…

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Ep 40 - What is going on with laws and law changes at World Rugby? 33:06

1+ y ago33:06

33:06

A walk through the law change proposals coming out of World Rugby in recent weeks. What is going on? What will actually change? And when? In today's episode, I will walk through where this law chat has come from, the importance of World Rugby's Shape of the Game meetings and all the elements that are flowing from that event held at the end of Febru…

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Ep 39 - Refereeing tips if you're a 'coach with a whistle' 17:31

2y ago17:31

17:31

Today, I walk through some great tips for all those rugby coaches out there who have to take charge of a match as a referee. Are you a Coach with a Whistle (TM), rather than a rugby referee? Maybe you're a reluctant ref - a volunteer being thrust forward because you had too much to say during a match? Maybe you just didn't avoid eye contact quickly…

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Episode 38: Refereeing as a wheelchair user with MND - Graeme Bloom 36:07

2+ y ago36:07

36:07

Today, we're joined by Graeme Bloom - a unique person in the rugby refereeing community. Graeme's a keen supporter of match officials and, despite an MND diagnosis in 2019, he remains committed to staying involved in refereeing our great game. During the conversation we hear about his story and his ambitions to be a referee. We hear a little about …

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Episode 37 - Refereeing news update 45:33

2+ y ago45:33

45:33

Hi, Keith Lewis from RugbyReferee.net here with a general update on refereeing news! Plenty to chat about from the referees and refereeing world at the moment! In this episode, I walk through: 1) New formal Law clarification - grounding on a thing in in-goal 2) Law issues Loose ball brought to ground is classed as "held/holding" 2012 Clarification …

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Episode 36: New Zealand Rugby's community tackle height changes for 2023 45:51

2+ y ago45:51

45:51

Today, I'm joined by New Zealand Rugby's Mike Hester to chat about their law variations for the 2023 rugby season. They include a lower tackle height, a restriction on scrum halves and for the pack as a whole. All three are important for all referees and match officials across Aotearoa. Mike is NZR's Game Participation Manager, and he tells me abou…

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Episode 35 - A new Law Application Guideline for 2023 34:39

3y ago34:39

34:39

It's a Happy New Year to you all! Today, Keith Lewis, founder of RugbyReferee.net and host of the Advantage Over podcast talks through a new World Rugby 2023 Law Application Guideline for 2023. While much of it is targetted at the elite end of the game, the principles within it covers all of rugby no matter what level we're refereeing! So we need t…

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Episode 34: July 2022 Law Changes now in play 33:42

3+ y ago33:42

33:42

Today, it's a solo episode with Keith talking through all the new law changes and amends that have now come into play from 1 July 2022. In summary, Keith talks about All the Global Law Trials from last season which move into full law Two new GLTs – scrum brake foot, and restrictions on medics/water carriers Some minor wording where there have had t…

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Episode 33 - Mental skills for Refereeing 40:23

3+ y ago40:23

40:23

Today, we're joined by Tim Wyatt, a Sport and Exercise Psychologist (in training) to chat about... well.. sport and psychology! Especially for us as rugby referees. We chatted about identifying your own values for refereeing, and then how we prep for a game, cope during the game, and finally the importance of reflection. The article to go with this…

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Episode 32 - Refereeing ugly 28:39

3+ y ago28:39

28:39

Today, it's a solo episode looking at the one of the less pleasant sides of our game - the general increase in angst and poor behaviour on and around the rugby field. We have a look into how to manage and deal with these types of situations, whether it's players baiting each other, angsty touch judges, coaches, replacements and spectators. There's …

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Episode 31 - Scottish Rugby's Match Official Strategy with Andrew Macpherson 34:01

3+ y ago34:01

34:01

I'm joined by Andrew Macpherson, now the High Performance Match Official Manager from Scottish Rugby to talk about their new three year Refereeing and Match Official Development Strategy We chat about: Why there's been a 17 year gap between Scottish international referees The new Match Official Strategy and how it'll help reduce the 17 year gap bef…

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Episode 30: Staying referee fit without any rugby 53:44

5y ago53:44

53:44

I'm joined for a second time by Ross Hanbury, a referee fitness specialist who's been working with various referee societies and referees for some years now. We talk about all sorts of things through this episode - from finding small ways to keep mobile while working from home, to getting started again, staying fit when we're all stuck at home, som…

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Episode 29: Three Blokes, a ball and Bod: A referee special 1:18:56

5+ y ago1:18:56

1:18:56

A slightly different style of show for you here as I bring you the audio of a Facebook Live show, recorded on 22 July 2020, and hosted by Three Blokes, A Ball & Bod. Co-hosted by Advantage Over host Keith Lewis and the show's own Big Joe Sheppard, we were joined by Bay of Plenty Referee Manager, Cam Russell and Premiership Rugby TMO (who had 110 ap…

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Episode 28: Bonus edition: Law variation options for post-Covid-19 rugby 13:28

5+ y ago13:28

13:28

Bonus episode as World Rugby have today outlined 10 possible temporary law changes so that rugby can restart in a post-Coronavirus world. It will be up to individual Unions and competition chiefs to decide whether to introduce the, and which ones, on a temporary basis to suit local regulations or guidance. For full wordings and story, visit: https:…

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Episode 27 - Mental Health & Resilience for rugby referees 37:34

5+ y ago37:34

37:34

Today, we're joined by Nick Marshall, active referee and organiser of Marshalling Men's Minds - a community and support network for those with poor mental health, We talked about his refereeing and mental health journeys (one upwards, one less so..) and how he overcame it. We talked about how to spot if you're struggling, what triggers you (or your…

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BONUS episode: Law change - Scoring against the post 3:57

5+ y ago3:57

3:57

World Rugby have today (12 May 2020) changed the scoring law, removing the ability for a player to score a try by grounding the ball against the post protector. Why? Well listen in and find out! (Hint: player safety) Full story: https://rugbyreferee.net/2020/05/12/law-change-grounded-against-post-protector-removed-as-scoring-possibility/…

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Episode 25 - Advantage 17:44

5+ y ago17:44

17:44

In the second of our shorter form podcasts, we take a look into refereeing advantage in rugby. It's one of those areas, plenty of people have a view on, so let's look into what the law says, and how we should best look to referee it. As ever, we'd love to know what you think so let us know - find us on social media at @RugbyRefereeNet, or comment o…

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Episode 24 - Refereeing the in-goal 13:04

5+ y ago13:04

13:04

Welcome to episode 24 of the Advantage Over podcast. This is the first of series of shorter podcasts aimed at keeping your refereeing mind ticking over - especially given the events we’re all living through all over the rugby globe. Today, we're looking at in-goal. Why? Well, it's the most queried area of the game in our community discussions over …

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Episode 23: The New Referee 32:44

6y ago32:44

32:44

In this week's episode, we speak to Alistair Falconer Hall, a new referee in Oxfordshire, England. He talks to us about why he decided to get into refereeing, his thoughts on the training he went through and what it's been like in his first few games. Hopefully you'll be inspired by his journey and want to get involved - let us know! Other things m…

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Episode 22: Refereeing the Scrum - with Scrumstrong.com and Super Rugby prop, Sam Needs 44:57

6y ago44:57

44:57

Sam Needs - Super Rugby prop and creator of ScrumStrong.com joins us to talk about all things related to the scrum. We chat about the different elements of setting up the scrum, what to look for, and they how to spot the issues that often crop up from a refereeing perspective. We also discuss Sam's idea around "Scrumpires" - speciality referees who…

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Our eight RWC2019 refereeing takeaways 26:31

6y ago26:31

26:31

A week after the Rugby World Cup final, we look at the top eight things we take away from the tournament - but from a refereeing perspective. What are our top eight? #1 Introducing a big new ‘thing’ needs to be done earlier #2 All teams in a tournament need bedding-in time #3 The future elite group of referees looks bright #4 Don’t set out the stal…

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Advantage Over episode 20: Wayne Barnes, RFU, World Rugby & Rugby World Cup referee 29:04

6y ago29:04

29:04

Wayne Barnes, the RFUs most experienced rugby referee joins the Advantage Over podcast to talk about: his career highlights how he maintains his professional athlete status peaks and troughs and how he deals with it nutrition, training and sleep! His panel of advisers his future in rugby A great chat - we hope you enjoy it!…