McDowell referees in Bucharest
Simon McDowell of Ireland has been appointed to the European Nations Cup match between Romania and Portugal in Bucharest.
It’s a long way from his roots and, apart from rugby, he has stayed close to his roots. Born in Larne near Belfast in 1968, educated at Belfast High School, living in Larne with his wife Suzanne and their two children and working in Larne – all of that suggests a man who has stayed close to home. But rugby football – and specifically refereeing – has taken him to nearly 20 countries around the globe.
Many referees are players who were crocked and so started refereeing. McDowell went that route. He played senior rugby at centre for North of Ireland Football Club (NIFC) from 1987 to 1990. He then suffered a serious knee injury and following three reconstruction operations was unlikely to play again. In 1992 aged 23 he refereed his first game because the referee did not turn up. That day Jedforest Golden Oldies beat North Cavaliers by a brace of tries. That day started a great career.
McDowell then attended the Ulster Society of Referees summer course in Belfast to find out about the Laws and joined the whistlers to give it a go. After a season, returning to playing was no longer an option and the challenge to progress up the refereeing ranks was to continue.
McDowell has now refereeing experience in nearly 20 countries around the world for Magners League, Heineken Cup, the IRB’s Under-19 World Championship, the IRB’s Under-21 World Championship, ‘A’ Internationals and Sevens tournaments, including the IRB’s World Sevens Series. Having been appointed to the IRB touch judge panel in 2003 he has been involved as a touch judge and a television match official in over 30 Tests including Six Nations, Tri-Nations and the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
In 2002 he refereed his first Test – Holland vs Czech Republic and in 2006 a World Cup qualifier, Namibia vs Morocco.
Highlights to date include refereeing the 2002 Under-21 Rugby World Championship Final at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, the Hong Kong Sevens in 2004 and acting as a touch judge for the Rugby World Cup in France in 2007.
McDowell continues to enjoy rugby refereeing on a semi-professional contract with the Irish Rugby Football Union but balances this with a full time job as Managing Director of Kilwaughter Chemical Co Ltd.
On Friday, McDowell and his two Irish touch judges Mark Hermin and Alan Rogan will leave for Bucharest, returning on Sunday. It is his third trip to Romania with rugby having previously been a touch judge there in 2001 and 2003.
From Belfast to Bucharest, it is not exactly summer though this weekend Bucharest’s weather is likely to be marginally warmer than Belfast’s. Both have a chance of rain but Bucharest expects to be 12°C at its best, Belfast 7°C.
