Referee Titcomb dies
Mike Titcomb, a top club and Test rugby referee who served on the international panel for 10 years, has died at the age of 75.
Mike became the youngest referee at 32-years-old to take charge of an international game in 1966 when Wales took on Scotland. After that Mike went on to take charge of nine internationals involving all the major touring nations.
Mike also officiated in five England trials, three Barbarian fixtures and 26 county matches, including three finals. Rarely for modern times he, an Englishman, was appointed to referee a match involving England in what was recognised as a full international against a President’s XV in the RFU centenary year of the 1971-72 season. He was know for his fitness and for getting on well with the players.
From Bristol, Mike was a teacher, a lecturer at Bristol University and after that became Head of Physical Education at Bristol Polytechnic. As one of the polytechnic rugby committee members he became one of the founder members of the England Students’ organisation, then made up of Colleges, Polytechnics and Universities. He was a member of the England Students committee until he fell ill five years ago.
The RFU’s Elite Referee Development Manger Ed Morrison said: “I first came across Mike as a player and there’s no doubt about it, he was an outstanding referee and always enhanced the game.
“He was also an outstanding man, full of character and personality and he brought that to the field every time he refereed a match. He spent 10 years on the international panel and became the first international referee to come from the Bristol Referees’ Society.”
He joined the society in 1956 at the age of 23 after damaging an eye charging down a conversion.
He had a notorious moment at Lansdowne Road in Dublin in 1968 when Wales played Ireland. It was a gloomy day and he awarded a dropped goal to Wales though Gareth Edwards’s kick had passed outside of the upright. This put Wales level 6-all with Ireland. The crowd were incensed. Some threw missiles in the direction of the referee and a section invaded the pitch. Order was restored, and Ireland went on to win 9-6, making the police escort for the referee at the end of the match unnecessary. Afterwards Mike apologised, people were gracious and he did not referee an Ireland match again.
Michael Herbert Titcomb was born 23 April 1933 and died 2 May 2 2008, survived by his wife and three children. His funeral will take place at the Cathedral Church of Sts Peter and Paul, Pembroke Road, in Clifton, Bristol on Tuesday 13 May.
