Welsh match officials success in Belgrade

Wales Rugby League’s match officials Craig Davies and James Jones were recently involved in the U19 European Championships in Belgrade.

Davies was touch judge for the first round match between Serbia and Ukraine, refereed a semi-final between France and Scotland then ran the line again for England v France.

He said: “It was great to mingle with other officials from across Europe and beyond. I’m hoping I can return in two year’s time. I’m very grateful to be given this opportunity and I hope that I did my country proud.

“I had three tough games. There was no love lost between Serbia and Ukraine, whilst France and Scotland was a slooberknocker and the toughest game I’ve referred in my career thus far. It was good to be put into that environment and test myself.

“I had a review with former Super League referee Thierry Albert and the feedback I received was invaluable, both good and bad, it will help me improve going forward.”

Jones ran a match officials’ course which saw one person appointed as a touch-judge on the final day and two as interchange officials.

“It’s been a fantastic experience getting the officials through level 1 and part of the officiating team on finals day which shows how well they progressed,” noted Jones. “It was a very good group of women and men and it’s great for European rugby league.

“To bring them into a review environment after matches with the officiating squad and former top referee Thierry Alibert was a privileged place to be and not many get to do that. They took a lot from that and it’s something I hope we can repeat in the future.”