August 2023

 The following protocols have been drawn up by Scottish Rugby, to ensure that rugby in Scotland receives the best service possible from Match Officials at all levels. 

Each Match Official agrees that: 

1. They will contact the home club at least 48 hours before the match should the Referees Secretary of that club fail to make contact. 

2. They will make every effort to conform to the Laws of the Game, approved Law Variations, current guidelines and protocols. 

3. They will be physically prepared to act as a Match Official. If there is any doubt they should not undertake any such appointments until they have fully recovered. 

4. If verbal abuse or other misconduct from a coach or other club official is such that it would have resulted in a red card had it occurred on the field of play, the referee shall formally caution the individual and require them to leave the Playing Enclosure. This should be done without brandishing a card. The referee shall then submit a report to the Scottish Rugby/ Society Discipline Manager using whostheref.com. The Discipline Manager shall consider any such report and refer it to a Disciplinary Committee as appropriate. In all other cases i.e. where the referee considers the conduct to be abusive but not equivalent to a red card offence, the referee shall record the details of the incident and report it to the Referee Society Discipline Manager or their nominated deputy. 

Championship Matches: 

5. They will enter details on whostheref.com website of the score, yellow and red card forms within 48 hours of completion of the match. 

6. They will conduct themselves in an orderly and respectable manner, and they will maintain a tidy appearance while representing Scottish Rugby and/or their Referee Society. 

7. They will make every effort to attend post-match functions. 

8. They will keep the Scottish Rugby Match Official Department and their Referee Society regularly informed of any changes to their personal contact details. 

9. They will not engage in conduct, behaviour or practices which may bring Scottish Rugby or the game of rugby football into disrepute.