Coaching Framework

The 2026 Season features the implementation of a new WRRA Referee Development Framework. This initiative will be led by the new WRRA Coaching Convenor Stan Wright who brings over 25 years of experience as a former Premier Referee, NZ First Class Referee and Head Referee Coach of the UAE Referees Society.

This initiative is based in a commitment to implement the NZ Community Rugby Referees Development Framework with a goal of achieving consistency in the way we referee the game, aligning resources to best serve the needs of our people, the needs of the game, and the needs of stakeholders.

The focus is not only on developing people as referees, but on developing people who are first and foremost good human beings who amongst their skills and talents are competent referees.  In doing that WRRA coaching framework recognises the differing reasons why people referee, from wanting to be simply engaged in the game they enjoy through to being the best they can be as a high-performance referee.

The WRRA Referee Development Model for 2026 is outlined in the following. To learn more about being involved in WRRA Referee Development as a Referee or Referee Coach then contact Stan on coaching@wrra.org.nz