National Schools Sevens 10-14 March 2008

[Robert Burns]

In response to Andy Evans' email, I'm going to leave this thread here for interested parties to ask questions or raise their interest to attend.

Andy's email:

No, not a misprint!!
In writing to thank you all for your fantastic efforts in ensuring the 2007 NSS was successful, a comment which has been endorsed by feedback from the competition organisers and the participating teams, I must highlight the outstanding way in which we all worked together and helped the ground referee and control managers to run the competition on time. The weather wasn't as bad as it could have been, on the other hand the catering wasn't brilliant and there are probably lots of other itty-bitty things which could have been better - but it all came together and, from Monday morning through to Friday afternoon, I wasn't aware of any significant glitches. So a big thank-you from me to all of you, particularly those of you who experienced my spreadsheeting errors first hand.
Obviously, I hope that the NSS success each season results in more referees in more societies (& in more countries) becoming aware of the opportunity to participate - 'coz otherwise I'd have to enrol schoolmasters from the competing teams to reinforce the team of society referees. So I admit to counting down to the following season's NSS on the 1st day of the current season's NSS. In the 2007-2008 season, Easter is 2 weeks earlier (April 9 2007 becomes March 24 2008) - hence the NSS is 2 weeks earlier and I'm counting down from 351. It's a rude awakening in early January each year!!!
So, please mark the 2008 NSS dates10th-14th Marchin your diary and I do hope that you'll be able both to participate next season and also to spread the word among the refereeing community that I'm always on the look-out for more society referees to officiate during the week.
Those of you with a few hours to spare should take a look at the 2007 NSS photos!!

http://www.ns7.co.uk/photo.htm

[PeterH]

What grade of ref are you interested in?

[Jacko]

What grade of ref are you interested in?

You'll do...

[FlipFlop]

Ref's of all grades are much appreciated......

[Simon Thomas]

Was the CRB requirement actively imposed this year by checks - or was 'word of honour' enough ?

[Dixie]

Was the CRB requirement actively imposed this year by checks - or was 'word of honour' enough ?

I doubt it could have been checked. My club submitted its full junior coaching and reffing team for CRB to the RFU in early September, and has not heard a peep since! The RFU has committed to renew them annually - is that a joke? If this deplorable effort has been the experience of clubs and refs around the country, there can be few refs out there with valid CRB certificates

[beckett50]

I have to admit, that if asked to produce a certificate I produce the CRB certificate from the in whose grounds I reside!

[Colt]

When I applied to Ref Andy Evans very quickly came back and said my CRB was out of date. He was right, it was my fault for not advising him of my new CRB number. So to answer the question I am not sure anybody would have slipped through the net.

[Robert Burns]

It is checked with the RFU database, yes. Mine is out of date from next month, but I'm not renewing till May so I get a whole season out of it.

[mbkingsmill]

Correct me if i'm wrong but we have been advised (by our CB Welfare Officer) that the CRB check through the rfu is valid for 3 years.