
It's normal at elite level. You'll hear a player's number used precisely zero times throughout the NRL season. I don't like it.I accidentally started watching a Rugby League game between England and Samoa. And at just about every tackle the referee would shout instructions, not that weird, but what I though was odd was that he used the players name. Is this normal for League referees.


The thinking is that players are almost certain to know what their name is and are much more likely to respond to it than the number, which can change. I've had good results on the touchline from learning the wingers' names and using them to pass messages infield; "hey, Dave" works a lot better than "hey, number 2".
Assuming he is called Dave and not Rodney.

Quite right! He'd be on 'Ackney Marshes, playing soccer for Del Boy's Dodgy Dynamos."Rodney" would not be playing that dreadful oiks game!

I've had good results on the touchline from learning the wingers' names and using them to pass messages infield; "hey, Dave" works a lot better than "hey, number 2".

Why is the winger (Dave) wearing the hookers shirt????

I have a reverse issue. My name is relatively unusual so I regulary get players calling me Ciaran during the game.
Having reffed and played against the same teams for 30 years, they do get to know you.
I do not have a problem with this And i do not want to pedantic and insist that the call me ref or sir.
I do tell visiting teams from out of the county that they will hear people talking to me by name bit to be fair even the teams from out of the county often do as I've reffed at this level for a number of years.
Any thoughts on this?


The teams around here know that it's "sir" between the lines, Simon outside them

What's longer - the pre-match brief or the game?At captains brief I say "Chris, Bob (whatever..) my name is Peter. If something happens in the game that demands my immediate attention such as a serious injury shout PETER. I will react far quicker than to a shout of SIR. Don't abuse it but if you need to, use my name" Never had anyone take the mick by calling me Pete all game. I say a similar thing to physios "Clare, if somebody is SERIOUSLY injured and you need me to stop the game shout "Peter stop the game" and as soon as I can I will"
Not sure I would want to be spoken to by my name as a matter of course during a game, and they don't although I think quite a lot know it......

I did once dismiss a South African player for calling me a "****in Engelsman"
I mean. Englishman. Straight red sunshine.
When I'm working with Captains, I try to use first names when I'm at the early stages of managing issues. "Eric, get your guys to stay on their feet... Chris, lets's work on the backs staying onside"
Then, if I have to resort to "Red captain" or "black captain" they know immediately that Something Bad has happened, and they'll react appropriately.
It may not work for everyone, but I find it helps as a management tool.