Broadstreet RFC

The sky is blue the ground hard and the temperature high metaphorically and physically; it must be the start of a new rugby season!
The game causes passions to be raised so it should and always be but unfortunately control and discipline sometimes breaks down, leading to incidents, which require action by the society and CB.
So far there have been four separate cases, which have led to formal proceedings. All involve match official abuse. This is very worrying on several counts.
Referees are not born, most of us got to the end of our playing days, always thought we could do better with the whistle and found to the contrary when we stood in the middle! The learning curve is a steep one; a lot of time and commitment is required to become the finished article.
We referee for many varied reasons but enjoyment is paramount. Who in their right mind would want to be exposed to a weekly dose of vitriol supplied by spectators as well as players?
This problem is not just a local one. In South Africa the Golden Lions referees recently went on strike to bring home their concerns regarding poor discipline, physical and verbal assault, one referee had been shot at! Willie Roos the number 7 ref in South Africa has resigned because a spectator at the end of a Currie Cup game physically assaulted him.
In Warwickshire the problem is nowhere as acute but we do need to take a collective long hard look at the actions of a few that threaten the well being of the game.
If we do not there will be a dwindling band of deaf, blind thick-skinned old men who have no lives left to wander around the pitch!
Even worse than that would be sight of no rugby taking place because there was no referee.
We all have a joint responsibility to leave the game in a better place than we found it.
If you become aware of actions or deeds, which are contrary to, the spirits of the game on the pitch or elsewhere please challenge these individuals. Banter and humour is an integral part of rugby abuse and intimidation is not.
John Davies