USA referees' panels

Following the Referee and Laws Selection Committee meeting, USA Rugby announced today the referee appointments to the National Panel, National Focus Group and Director’s Panel for the 2008-2009 competition season.

The chosen group of officials were named by participating Selection Committee members Richard Every, Don Morrison, Mike Cobb, Fred Thomas and Charlie Haupt, in a session moderated by Committee Chairman and USA Rugby Director of Referee Development Ed Todd.

The National Panel for 2008-2009 remains primarily intact from last season, but features the new additions of Phil Griffiths, Pete Smith and Dana Teagarden, all of whom were appointed to the National Focus Group during the 2007-2008 season.

Paul Bethe, Judah Boulet and Aruna Ranaweera maintain their positions in the National Focus Group and welcome newcomers Mitch Damm, Gareth Morgan and Nick Ricono for the upcoming season.

New in 2008-2009 is the Director’s Panel designation for match officials who have reached the highest level of their craft in the U.S. and will continue to contribute on the field. Referees appointed to this panel include: Graeme Bullen, Tom Coburn, Jem McDowell, Richard Parker, Dave Peters, Mark Zetterberg and Brad Kleiner. 

Ed Todd said: “Congratulations to the 2008-2009 USA Rugby Referee panels and to all of the Local Area Unions and Territories, without whose support the referee excellence represented here could not have been achieved.”

The 2008-2009 National Panel appointments are as follows:

National Panel

Davey Ardrey (Great Plains, West)
Paul Bretz (Northern California, Pacific)
Chris Draper (Texas, West)
Ed Gardner (Southeast, South)
Phil Griffiths (Northeast, New England)
Chris Henshall (EPRU, MARFU)
Tim Luscombe (Eastern Rockies, West)
Tom Lyons (Potomac, MARFU)
Simon Page (Florida, South)
Pete Smith (Northern California, Pacific)
Dana Teagarden (Southern California)

National Focus Group

Paul Bethe (Met NY, Northeast)
Judah Boulet (New England, Northeast)
Mitch Damm (Texas, West)
Gareth Morgan (Southeast, South)
Aruna Ranaweera (Northern California, Pacific)
Nick Ricono (Southern California)

Director’s Panel

Graeme Bullen (Texas, West)
Tom Coburn (Eastern Rockies, West)
Brad Kleiner (Met NY, Northeast)
Jem McDowell (Met NY, Northeast)
Richard Parker (New England, Northeast)
Dave Peters (Southern California)
Mark Zetterberg (Pacific Northwest, Northwest)

From Ashley Voss
Communications Coordinator
USA Rugby