Eastern Counties Rugby Union

William Debenham Colts Captain 18 at #WoodbridgeRugby has been promoted to level six as a rugby referee - the top Eastern Counties league level, making him the youngest ever in Eastern Counties to attain this level and one of the youngest nationally to do so.

Wills first taste of officiating came at the Woodbridge Rugby Club Festival when he was just 14. This opportunity was pure chance when a candidate failed to arrive for a young official’s course run by Andrew Wilesmith, that older brother Tom was attending. Having impressed and enjoyed the experience, Will went on to use refereeing as his skill for Duke of Edinburgh helping him achieve his bronze and silver awards where he refereed both school and club youth matches.

After completing his Entry Level Referees award in Nov 2012 he went on to join the Suffolk and North Essex Referees Society and became part of its newly formed Youth Academy, continuing with youth games until he was 16. By the end of his first season refereeing adults in 2014/15 he had achieved level 9; and has progressed rapidly in his second season taking charge of a number of high profile games; including the Suffolk Cup and Plate Finals and Eastern Counties games to reach level 6. This development earned him the Referee Societies 2016 Award for Most Progressed Referee (see pictured). If Will continues to progress and reaches level 4 he would be sufficiently qualified to take charge of Championship standard games.

Graham Feest President of Eastern Counties Referees commented “William took a chance opportunity to try refereeing and has embraced the discipline, passing his stages with flying colours to become a credit to the game’s officials who provide such a vital element to competition, safety and fun. Rugby is growing rapidly with thousands of matches over a season. It’s young men like Will who ensure that they take place in a properly structured and enjoyable manner. We are very proud of Will’s achievement and hope other juniors will try the whistle”.

An Upper Sixth Student at Thomas Mills High School, Will hopes to join Harper Adams University in October to study Chartered Surveying and Land Management and will join the North Midlands Referees Society where he hopes to progress further up the refereeing ladder in the coming season, and achieve selection to play BUCs league rugby at University.