AN ACADEMY for young rugby referees is being launched by the Warwickshire Society of Referees after six youngsters successfully completed a recent RFU course.

The academy is designed to introduce and develop young people in the art of officiating and is based upon a pilot pioneered by the Hampshire Referees' Society.

The scheme is being run by retired RFU Panel referee, Mike Edwards, a former teacher, who is currently president of Alcester RFC. He will be supported by Warwick referee advisor John Cooper.

Six teenagers, who were among 24 candidates who took the RFU's National Foundation Referee Course will be the first to benefit from the new scheme, which will be up and running before the end of the year and include 15-year-old Gareth Shuttleworth, a pupil at Stratford's King Edward VI School.

Peter Tolan, Warwickshire Society's National Foundation Course trainer said, "It is very important that when youngsters show an interest in refereeing that we help to train and develop them and give them the chance to grasp the many opportunities that there are in the game for young match officials.

"There is a demand for younger officials at the top end of the game. The opportunities are tremendous for the right youngsters, but they do have their own specific training and development needs."

Any youngsters interested in becoming a referee should contact Peter on 02476 467231.