Scottish Rugby – in partnership with the Scottish Women’s Rugby Union (SWRU) – have launched a national recruitment initiative to encourage more women to take up refereeing and offer additional intense personal improvement training to those showing the greatest potential. Scottish Rugby will continue to offer recognised refereeing qualifications through the structured training programme while the new fast track scheme will provide additional support to those identified as being outstanding prospects – primarily ex-internationalists and Premier League players – through a targeted recruitment and nomination process.Scottish Rugby – in partnership with the Scottish Women’s Rugby Union (SWRU) – have launched a national recruitment initiative to encourage more women to take up refereeing and offer additional intense personal improvement training to those showing the greatest potential. Scottish Rugby will continue to offer recognised refereeing qualifications through the structured training programme while the new fast track scheme will provide additional support to those identified as being outstanding prospects – primarily ex-internationalists and Premier League players – through a targeted recruitment and nomination process. Iain Heard, National Referees Academy Manager, said: In a similar way to how the Referee Academy operates, the fast track scheme will provide stand-out individuals with monthly one to ones, video analysis of their performance and tailored nutritional and fitness advice, on top of the high standard of training they receive at district level. Of course anyone interested can apply for referee courses and receive specific referee training but the fast track scheme is now in place to single out those who show potential to referee at a higher level – particularly international players like Alex Pratt , one of the first nominees. Each entrant to the two year programme will be overseen by the referee academy manager who will ensure the development of their practical match officiating skills and knowledge as well as monitor the candidates refereeing and fitness progress. Scotland back-row, Alex Pratt, said: Ive been registered as a referee for two years now and I really enjoy it. When youre refereeing there are 31 people on the pitch hopefully all enjoying themselves and I like being a part of that. We get a huge amount of support from the local referees societies who provide you with a refereeing mentor as well as fitness and nutritional programmes. Id encourage anyone to give it a go. Chairperson of the SWRU board, Sandra Kinnear, added: The new fast track refereeing scheme aims to increase the number of female referees in the mens and womens leagues and womens international fixtures, to increase the number of female members of Referee Societies and to improve the performance of selected referees and prepare them for appointments to premier level and womens international level. Weve created a range of pathways to make it easier for women to get into refereeing. Theres as much opportunity for a current or ex-international to become a referee as there is for a 16 year-old school leaver. The accessibility of the programme will be underlined to all present at the SWRU AGM this Saturday (10 May).