Saints Community Development Foundation are delighted to announce a parntership with St Helens RLRS.
St. Helens Rugby League Referees Society belongs to a wider branch of societies that aim to develop and recruit match officials of all ages within the sport.
Their members include officials serving at all levels of the game, from grass root matches through to being appointed at the highest level by the Rugby Football League including on the international stage. They have officiated at World Cup and World Club Finals and contribute to coaching and management throughout the game. In addition to this they have a wide range of experience within their team which is of great benefit to all members of the society as we strive to help each other to improve and develop.
Steve Leonard, Saints Community Development Foundations Director said:
“It is fantastic to be able to announce a partnership between Saints community Development Foundation and the St Helens Referees society.
I have a lot of admiration for the members of our referee’s society and what they are striving to achieve so to be able to help them out is immense.
The partnership will see the Referees society using the Shining Lights centre as a training and educational base, with a view to expanding their database of referees and enhancing the experience of their current crop.
I have worked with Phil Smith with the Community Development and he has always helped with many programmes we have worked on over the years, and it is nice to be able to reciprocate.
Having a base will help no end in the development of our referee’s society and I welcome they wholeheartedly to the Shining Lights Centre and wish them well.”
St Helens RLRS chairman Craig Hill commented:
“We are delighted to enter a partnership with the SCDF and look forward to the mutual benefits this will bring. For the first time in our Society’s history extending back more than a century, the new partnership offers us the prospect of a physical operational home base for all our group activities.
We can maintain and expand our engagement with all local clubs to facilitate the playing of matches at all levels in our town. We have always offered liaison and access to coaching and further understanding of the rules and their application. This partnership offers welcome opportunities to further promote our ongoing commitment to the community as well as attract potential new referees to our ranks.
We thank the SCDF and all who had the vision to enable this to happen and we’re fully committed to make it work.”