February 9th, 2022

(WHITBY, ON) - In the Covid-19 impacted season of 2021 the Match Official appointing pool was significantly reduced due to several factors. Starting with a small core of around 30 officials in February, by the end of the season there were 75 Match Officials, supported by 18 Club Referees who stepped in when a Match Official was unavailable to be appointed. This dedicated group covered over 600 appointments, many of which included multiple game assignments at tournaments. More details regarding the current state can be found in an upcoming State of Officiating report which will be released next week.

As we approach the 2022 season, there is a critical need to reinforce these numbers with new recruits and work to bring back more returning officials from 2019 and before. In late 2019, Rugby Ontario announced that for 2020, the following initiatives would be undertaken. These initiatives were postponed given the impact of Covid-19 on rugby in 2020 and 2021. With an expected return to a normal rugby season in 2022, we are keen to introduce the following:

-    Increase Referee Game Fees (please see table below)

-    Offer a greater number of Level 1 courses (if possible, based on public health restrictions related to Covid-19 pandemic)

-    Ensure that practical opportunities (practices, games and tournaments) are the primary focus of every Level 1 course

-    Offer an early bird registration discount of $25 for Match Official and Coaching Courses 

Referee Game Fee increases will include the following:

-    Junior game fees increasing from $40 to $50

-    All senior matches below the highest level (Marshall I, OWL I, EORU/FRQ Super Ligue & Provincial) standardized at $60 per match

-    Top tier (Marshall I, OWL I, OUA) fees increasing from $70 to $75

Rugby Ontario’s rationale for increasing game fees:

-    Referee Game Fees have not changed in at least 6 seasons

-    Greater compensation for referees should increase interest in officiating and support retention of current officials

-    Resolve confusion among clubs and referees over differences in fees for senior matches below the top tier

The changes for 2022 are summarized in the following table: 

To put these numbers in context, each U16 and U18 team will have an average annual increase in game fees of $50 for the regular season (assuming a 10-game schedule with 5 home games), and additional increase of $20-30 for a playoff run where a team has 2-3 home matches.

Rugby Ontario forecasts a similar increase in game fee costs for senior teams previously in the $50 bracket, with $50 increase in fees for a 10-game schedule, and potential playoff fees increasing by $20-30.

Rugby Ontario believe that increased game fees should strengthen referee numbers, in concert with our other initiatives listed above. As rugby continues to grow in Ontario, our officiating community must match that growth by broadening the pool of officials and improving the development opportunities for new and veteran officials alike. We look forward to continuing to work with you to achieve these goals.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact David Bushell at dbushell@rugbyontario.com