Clubs* use WhosTheRef to add fixtures and get notification of appointed officials. Once logged in, there is a “Support Hub” button in the top left. The Support Hub contains user guides for Club/Team Contacts which will explain the basic functionality. Please could all club WhosTheRef contacts familiarise themselves with these user guides, as they often contain the answers you’re looking for and will likely resolve your issue quicker than we can.

Clubs must nominate a Fixtures Secretary, Referee Contacts and Treasurer and these contacts must be kept up to date to ensure prompt and correct appointment of officials and notification of charges. A definition of each of these roles can be found below.

To change any of these roles for your club:

• the replacement must sign up to WhosTheRef
• select the “Rugby”, “Club Admin” and “NLDRURS” options when prompted
• detail clearly and specifically in the notes section what change you are requesting, e.g. “I am taking over as Club Referee Contact for Springfield RFC U16 Boys. Homer Simpson is leaving the club so can be removed from the team.”

*N.B. that WhosTheRef uses the term ‘Club’ for Schools and Universities.

Club Fixtures Secretary

The Club Fixtures Secretary is a club’s primary point of contact on WhosTheRef. Adding a fixture on WhosTheRef will prompt our appointers to appoint a referee. Most fixtures loaded onto GMS will populate across to WhosTheRef automatically, however Club Fixtures Secretaries are the only people at a club with permission to manually add a fixture (i.e. request a referee) for any team at their club. WhosTheRef’s functionality only allows for one Fixtures Secretary per club. The Fixtures Secretary will also default as a Club Referee Contact for each team at their club.

Club Referee Contact

A club can have as many Club Referee Contacts as they wish and may have multiple on each of the club’s teams, as required. These individuals are notified via an automated email when an official is appointed to their team’s home fixture. This email will contain the official’s contact details. The Society requests that one of the Club Referee Contacts contact the appointed official no less than 48hrs before KO to confirm the details of a match including kick off time, location and changing facilities available. Where assistants and/or performance reviewers are appointed, the club is only expected to contact the referee/lead official.

Club Treasurer

The Club Treasurer receives invoices for appointed referees, in accordance with our club charges. Clubs can only have one Treasurer on WhosTheRef.

Further Issues

Please check your Spam/Junk folder for emails from WhosTheRef and add their “do not reply” email address to your contacts. If an issue is not solved after using WhosTheRef’s Support Hub or reading this page, please Contact Us here.

Note that WhosTheRef is used by almost all rugby union referees’ societies in the country as well as other sports official organisations in the UK and abroad. While NLD Refs can request support and changes from WhosTheRef, most elements of the site are outside of our control.