Cumbria Rugby Union Referees’ Society has given strong backing to one of its members who was verbally abused in a game last Saturday.
After the game between Millom and Furness, which the home side won 18-17, Ciaran Trainor took to Twitter to announce he was not going to accept any more matches.
Trainor, a respected referee who has been officiating for a number of years is a former Vickers (Hawcoat Park) player.
He tweeted: “Another Saturday without enjoyment. I don’t give up my Saturdays to be constantly criticised by players and spectators and try to ref players who are only interested in cheap shots and fighting. Sorry, I’m not available for first team rugby.”
The response was immediate, with calls for him to reconsider and direct messages to clubs to get their houses in order and cut out the verbal abuse of all referees.
Brian Mitchelhill, chairman of Cumbria Referees Society, said: “We have contacted our clubs and asked them to show more respect to the referees. These are people who give up their week-ends to referee games for enjoyment.
“Why should they take their own time to officiate in rugby games and be subjected to various forms of verbal abuse?
“If there are no referees there are no games, it’s as simple as that, and verbal abuse is one of the main reasons people pack in.
“I have spoken to Ciaran, who is well thought of as a referee and how he controls a game, and he is going to take a two-week break but I am hopeful of him resuming after that.”
Although the county has about 30 referees not all are available each week. Indeed, sometimes there are only six or seven able to take matches.
