Eastern Counties Rugby Union

Bury St Edmunds referee Nigel Carrick who moved to the East of England from Hong Kong in 1992, joining Norwich Rugby club as a player for 4 years before ending his playing career at Bury St Edmunds Rugby club where he is still actively involved.

After playing, in his words "the best team sport there is", and given his day job as a PE teacher, he decided that refereeing was the best way to keep in touch with and be part of the game. He started refereeing in Suffolk, and vividly remembers his first game at Thurston Rugby club where on arrival he was shown to the disabled toilet as his changing room causing him to think for a moment if refereeing was indeed the right path.

From there has been onwards and upwards quickly moving up the ranks in Suffolk, Eastern Counties and London & the South East. In 2004, realising the on field demands of top flight refereeing was for the youngsters, he made a change to Assistant Referee, where he has since officiated in the Championship and for the last 6 years the Premiership. He was appointed to this year's Rugby World Cup where he has been selected as fifth official for Saturday's semi-final between holders New Zealand and South Africa at Twickenham. Nigel has previously featured as a fourth official at International matches at Twickenham and is a regular assistant in the Premiership, rugby union's top tier in England.

If Nigel's inspirational story has made you think about becoming involved in refereeing then why not give it a try. You never know you could be taking part in a future world cup just like Nigel

For more information on refereeing in Eastern Counties click here