Samson takes a mighty step forward at sevens

THERE might not be any Scottish referees on duty at the World Cup but Charles Samson, a young official from Fife, received a boost yesterday when it was announced that he will take charge of matches during five tournaments in this season’s HSBC Sevens World Series.

Charles Samson, a member of the Midlands Referees Society, has been chosen by the IRB to officiate at the tournaments in Australia, Dubai, South Africa, Scotland and England.

The 26-year-old, who works on the family vegetable farm near Cupar, entered refereeing through a fairly conventional route – a back injury led to him being advised to avoid any contact sport for a year.

“I’d played rugby since my mini days at Howe of Fife, then at school at Merchiston Castle and at University in Edinburgh,” explained Samson.

“What would I do? Having been brought up playing rugby every week I thought I’d give refereeing a shot and if I didn’t like it, nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

From taking control of a second XV match at St Andrews University at the end of 2006, he has progressed through the ranks of the SRU’s junior and senior referees’ academies and has now controlled RBS Premier 1 matches as well as National 1 matches in England.

Samson, who will officiate at the first tournament of this season’s HSBC Sevens World Series on Queensland’s Gold Coast on 25 and 26 November, is excited by news of his appointment to the sevens circuit. He added: “It’s going to be a great experience – it’s certainly not very often that you are given this kind of opportunity. For the last two years I’ve been involved in officiating at the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s, firstly as a No 4 and then as an assistant referee.”

Meanwhile, Bill Arkley, groundsman for Falkirk RFC, has been named RBS Volunteer of the Month for September. Arkley received the inaugural volunteer accolade on his own turf at the RBS Premier Division 2 club’s Sunnyside from local RBS Rugby representative, Colin Stanners.