Deaf Rugby....what?

[Davet]

Although a momentary blink of the eye, to clear sweat, rain, mud etc., may leave one or more players out of sync.

[crossref]

I've seen advice on reffing one deaf front row player, I'm wondering if any of you have ideas about coaching an entire deaf pack.

For context I am a ref and a sign language interpreter.

So far my approach has been to use hand signals in the peripheral vision of the prop. I am thinking of experimenting with a laser pointer on the ground under the opposing hooker with the idea being that when the light goes off the front row knows to engage.

Has anyone else reffed an all deaf pack?

surely it would be astonishingly rare if the entire pack were completely deaf.
Most registered deaf players will have some hearing and enought should be able to make out a loudly yelled CTPE, especially if both packs agreed to refrain from making any noise of their own.

[OB..]

Unless it is their first game together, they will presumably have some experience of what works. Ask them.

[Constantine]

I've AR'd in a game between two deaf teams. Since both teams were quite used to it, there was no problem. The ref crouched low, placed his hand between the front rows in the peripheral vision of the props, and basically waved it in time with his calls. On "engage" (this was last season) he pulled his hand back and straightened up. The scrums went well.

[Wireless]

I didn't have an ideal position to see how the referee was managing the engagement, but I think he was using hand signals near the ground.

Check out the latest YouTube Report featuring highlights from the England Deaf v Towcestrians RFC training game last Sunday.

Towcestrians are a Level 6 side playing in Midlands 1 East, the final score was England Deaf 41-5 Towcestrians, it might give you an idea of the level of skill in Deaf Rugby Union, when both the England Squad (and Towcestrians) were not fielding all of there starting 15, showing the depth of talent available.

http://www.youtube.com/user/EnglandD...y?feature=mhee

I should mention that the entire recorded England Deaf v Wales Deaf game this Sunday at Fylde RFC will be made available for free viewing on Vimeo in High Definition, now I've really given myself a task!

Unfortunately, the RFU has so far failed to provide England Deaf with a Ref Mic Set, so I cannot record the referee audio, unless someone wishes to loan me a set before the end of the week?

[Wireless]

Just posted some highlights of the recent England Deaf v Wales Deaf International on the above YouTube Channel, which some of you might find interesting, especially as these were RFU appointed Referees, particularly the scrum shown before the first England Try.

I have a few closeup Video clips of Scrum Engagements in this International, I may put them together, so that you guys can see how the engagement is managed in a Deaf International, with none of the players wearing hearing aids.

Quite how I can post it here I don't know, I may put it on the England Deaf Vimeo Account and provide a link.

[Wireless]

Unfortunately, no-one lent/gave me a Ref Mic Set, so the only Referee Audio available is picked up by the cameras.

Hopefully this will give Referees Worldwide an insight into Deaf Rugby Union.

The full coverage of the recent Deaf Rugby Union International, England Deaf v Wales Deaf, is now available on Vimeo for free viewing for a limited period.

You may select either Standard or High Definition, depending on your Internet Connection. The game is not available for download, for those wishing to obtain a Match DVD, please register your interest by sending an email to edrtv@btinternet.com

England Deaf Rugby Union hopes you enjoy the game.

http://vimeo.com/englanddeafrugby/en...f-v-wales-deaf

[Wireless]

Just to point out that the Match is now on DVD, so the free viewing on Vimeo has ended.

[Robert Burns]

Thanks for that Wireless.

How have you been, seems like ages!

[Wireless]

Yes, it has been ages, so long away from the game in fact that I was puzzled at the Referees words at the first Scrum this season, but it seemed to work better.

Here's an unashamed plug for the Match DVD I mentioned, all proceeds go to the EDRU Charity.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/England-De...#ht_500wt_1011