Rugby League Match Official Haydn Edwards will swap the rugby field for the snowy slopes this winter when he takes up the role of Team Manager for the GB Olympic Skeleton squad at the Intercontinental and Europa Cup.

Edwards who is based in South Wales will be working with GB athletes including Olympic Gold medallist Amy Williams who are competing in the events in USA, Canada and Europe.

Haydn Edwards said: “I’ve always wanted to work in this kind of capacity at the elite end of sport and working as a referee in both rugby codes has given me a great grounding.

“I worked as a Touch Judge at the Wales v Italy game in the Rugby League European Cup which provided good experience of working in the elite international environment and it is these kinds of experiences which helped me get this role.

“Other transferrable skills from being a Match Official which I can take into the role include being professional, regimented and being fit from training regularly.

“I’m really looking forward to the role which will involve working with the performance director who is responsible for the team and working with the coaches on how athletes are performing.

“There is also the added bonus of working with Amy Williams who is our first gold medal winner in the Winter Olympics in 30 years.”

Being a qualified Match Official can open a lot of doors and provides some great opportunities to remain involved in Rugby League and stay fit while earning money at the same time.

There are opportunities for Match Officials at all levels of the sport and everyone is catered for, so if you only want to referee on Sunday morning or Wednesday afternoon, that’s fine.

Alternatively if you want to progress to officiating at the highest level of the sport there are also pathways in place to help you advance.