Rugby Match Officials Well-Being Program » Player-Support

Rugby Match Officials Well-Being Program

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In 2024 PSS was approached by the Mike Mulroy, Director and Founder of SEVENS REFEREE, a Global Specialist Provider of Match Officials to some of the World’s greatest rugby tournaments.

As a rugby referee himself, Mike picked up a nasty knee injury as part of his refereeing duties several years ago in the amateur game and was shocked that unlike an injured player who would have access to a team’s physio for diagnosis, first line support and rehabilitation, that was not the case for the referees.

After battling through pain and discomfort which ultimately resulted in corrective surgery years later, Mike spent a significant amount of his own money on tests, assessments and physiotherapy.

Mike had seen what PSS was doing for current and former players and wondered what if anything existed for Match Officials and whether we could help. Of course we said yes.

We were surprised that there was not a coordinated insurance package and support network in place for the 9,000 plus registered rugby referees in the UK so we started to look at how PSS could support them.

Working with Mike, we began to understand the unique challenges faced by the match officials both on and off the pitch. The injury and rehabilitation was obvious to us, especially in the amateur game, but it became apparent that the officials also face huge physiological pressure too.

Cases of Match Official Abuse are rising significantly. In the professional game a professional referee from Ireland hung up his boots at the beginning of 2025 in no small part due to the online abuse he received from a professional player; that player receiving only a three week ban. In England, the RFU discovered that 49% of Match Officials had reported cases of Match Official Abuse.

We spoke to Mike on what he felt the causes of this abuse. What he told us was incredible.

“If a player drops a pass, misses a tackle or knock the ball forwards, then can hold up their hand to their team mates, say sorry and there’s always a friendly pat on the back to say “don’t worry mate, next time.”

“The pressure on the Officials is incredible even in amateur and children’s rugby. The comments from players, coaches and especially parents can be shocking. If a referee misses a forward pass or a knock on, who is going to pat them on the back and say don’t worry? Officials are not robots but they are expected to be perfect in every way at every level of the game.”

PSS is already skilled in providing support for emotional and physical well-being, as well as post career support so we agreed to work with Mike and SEVENS REFEREE to create a package of physical, financial and emotional support for UK based rugby match officials.

SEVENS REFEREE has been sponsored by Howden Insurance for a number of years and they were keen to find a solution that would help the wider match official community.

Work began on a PSS Member Package that would include the benefits of membership alongside insurance that would be of specific benefit to the officials.

The result is a brand new, one of a kind package, exclusively for rugby match officials in the UK that has never been seen before.

Player Support Services

3 Pillars of Well-Being (£10/ Month)

Player Support Services, Ltd. has already set a new standard by addressing every facet of an athlete’s journey, both during and after their career. By focusing on the three pillars of well-being—Performance, Physical, and Emotional—PSS ensures that players are supported holistically, empowering them to thrive in every aspect of life. For the first time ever, this in now available to amateur, semi-professional and professional match officials across the UK.

PILLAR I

Performance Well-Being

PILLAR II

Physical Well-Being

Discounted Rates for:

PILLAR III

Emotional Well-Being

Player Support Services is a globally recognized, award-winning leader in sports, dedicated to supporting athletes of all levels, across all sports, and from every corner of the world.

In partnership with SEVENS REFEREE and Howden Insurance, Player Support Service is proud to offer the first of its kind insurance and support package for rugby match officials.

To register for the discounted insurance, click the long white button at the bottom of the page.
AVAILABLE TO PSS MEMBERS ONLY

No longer will rugby match officials have to wait for delayed healthcare or out-of-pocket expenses for injuries sustained during matches.

Our solution ensures officials receive immediate, affordable, top-tier care so that they can focus on their passion and recovery without worrying about financial strain.

Benefits include Discounted Rates for:

Dedicated Personal Injury Cover: Customised policies to address the specific risks and injuries associated with officiating rugby.
Rapid Diagnostic & Rehabilitation Programmes: Access to top-tier private diagnostics & rehabilitation services to ensure swift and effective recovery.
Life & Critical Illness Insurance Cover: Exclusively discounted rates for all referee members wanting to take out additional coverage.

This specialised insurance package is an integral part of our commitment to providing unparalleled support to match officials, ensuring they have the protection and resources necessary to manage the unique challenges they face both on and off the field.
Together, we are committed to delivering the highest standard of support and protection for rugby referees, helping them to perform at their best, with confidence and peace of mind.
We know life as a match official can place you at risk of injury, more than we realised but we have your back offering rapid access to private care.

For extra piece of mind, your individual premium won’t go up if you need to use the services more than once. This was a key part of our negotiations that SEVENS REFEE and Player Support Services had and one of the reasons we chose to work with Howden Insurance.

Ask us about our add ons such as cancer cover too.