November 05, Colombo (LNW): A delegation of seasoned New Zealand rugby referees has arrived in Sri Lanka to conduct an intensive training programme aimed at raising the calibre of officiating within the Sri Lankan rugby community.
The 24-day initiative, organised with the backing of the Sri Lanka Society of Rugby Football Referees (SLSRFR), Sri Lanka Rugby, and the Ministry of Sports, seeks to equip local referees and club officials with enhanced skills and strategies ahead of the 2024/25 Club Rugby season.
This effort is spearheaded by Krishan Ambawatte, a Sri Lankan-born civil engineer and referee now based in New Zealand.
Ambawatte, who has refereed at both national touch rugby and provincial rugby levels, proposed the idea earlier this year.
“Our vision is to provide Sri Lankan referees with the necessary training to elevate their skills at no cost, fostering a long-term improvement in rugby officiating,” he explained.
His vision resonated well with both Sri Lankan rugby officials and the Ministry of Sports, paving the way for this partnership with New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty Rugby Union referees.
The programme will deliver workshops for referees across all tiers, as well as training for Judicial and Citing Officers, club administrators, and even coaches and captains.
The New Zealand team, comprising highly experienced referees, will also officiate matches to further strengthen local officiating standards. The programme is headlined by three top referees from New Zealand’s Bay of Plenty Rugby Union:
- Sam Fellows: A Level-2 referee with over 21 years in officiating, including stints with Auckland, Waikato, and Southern California Rugby Unions. As a current NZ National Referee, he has overseen 39 New Zealand First-Class games, 110 Provincial Premier games, and three World Rugby Sevens tournaments. His accomplishments include officiating the prestigious Bay of Plenty Premier Final and the Coral Coast Sevens in Fiji. Also a sports lecturer, lawyer, and tribunal member, Fellows brings invaluable experience to the training programme.
- Sam Thompson: With an 18-year career in rugby refereeing, Thompson has officiated more than 40 First-Class games and 144 Provincial Premier games. A standout in the Horowhenua-Kāpiti Rugby Union, he has earned titles as the top referee in the region multiple times and has officiated several high-stakes finals, including the Hurricane Zone College Boys Finals.
- Sean Curragh: Representing the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union, Curragh is an emerging talent with seven years of experience, including assisting in National NPC games and officiating the Bay of Plenty Premier Development Final. As part of the Chief’s Region Development Squad, Curragh brings fresh insights to the programme.
