Eastern Province referees go on strike for school matches
The Eastern Province Rugby Referee’s Society (EPRRS) has decided to go on an extended strike for officiating school rugby matches in the union.
This follows after a couple of incidents at various school matches around the province over the last few weeks. The EPRRS won’t appoint any referees for any school matches for the remainder of the the season.
According to sources a referee was assaulted by a schools’ player during a match in Despatch last weekend.
The strike will also continue into 2025 until the schools can supply the society with the necessary steps taken by the schools to take action against perpetrators and keep referees safe while officiating at their schools.
An official letter about the strike was circulated to all schools within the union. It was signed by the referees’ manager, Dante Rademeyer, as well as the acting chairman, Fernando Uithaler.
“We have no other option but to request that all schools in Eastern Province give us an action plan as to what measures they will put in place to secure the safety of our match officials when doing duty at your institution (s). Numerous incidents of referee abuse, both verbally and physically have been reported to us in the last month, of which the most recent ones happened over the last weekend,” stated the letter.
The letter also appeal to the various schools’ principals and its governing bodies to act harshly against perpetrators that make themselves guilty by abusing referees.
“The action plan should clearly state what actions will be taken against anyone who makes themselves guilty of abuse towards match officials on match days.”
“It has come to light that all stakeholders (players, spectators and coaches/teachers) make themselves guilty of abusive actions. Therefore, referees have taken a strong stance that they will not officiate any further, meaning, NO REFEREE, NO MATCH.” states the letter to the schools.
All the schools in the region is looking for solutions so that their matches could go on this weekend. The EPRRS only provide matches for the first team matches of the interschools with school teachers officiating the other clashes during interschools.
Schools matches scheduled for this Saturday:
13:45 – Marlow Landbou vs Framesby; 14:00 – Graeme College vs Muir College; 14:15 – HTS Daniël Pienaar vs Die Brandwag (Uitenhage); 15:00 – Grey High School vs Selborne College; Nico Malan vs Hoërskool Punt.