Chris White is relishing the chance of bringing through the next generation of top referees.
Leading officials to mentor rising referees
Chris White is relishing the chance of bringing through the next generation of top referees.
Having refereed at three World Cups, White is the country's most experienced officials.
However the 47-year-old will now combine taking charge of games in the Aviva Premiership with his new role as the RFU's national referee academy manager.
White, from Cheltenham, will not only be charged with spotting talented referees but leading the course to ensure they can reach the top.
The programme will supply the technical, analytical, fitness and sports science support for referees - with White acting as mentor to candidates coming through the ranks.
White will select his first group before the end of the year - with referees selected from the national panel and below.
And White, who as referred 50 Tests, is looking forward to playing a key role in inspiring up-and-coming officials.
"I still have the motivation to continue refereeing at the highest level but I've always had a passion for the development side of the game and improving performance," said White.
"The purpose of this new programme is to provide specific extra support for referees with the potential to progress to the highest level and it adds to the superb development systems we already have in place in England.
"There is a lot of talent out there and we'll focus on maximising the potential of a small group of officials with the potential to succeed at the top end of the game.
Potential
"There will be a great deal of concentration on the technical aspects of the game - at the breakdown and scrummage, for example - and we'll look at areas like communication on and off the pitch as well as at analysis and game preparation and fitness and medical support.
"It's all about maximising potential more quickly and we want to make sure we produce a constant stream of officials to take charge in the Premiership."
The aim of the referees academy is to see to get promising referees rise through the ranks quicker, while being better prepared.
And RFU head of elite referee development Ed Morrison believes White is the perfect man to act as a mentor to officials.
"Chris White's credibility in the game is well documented after such an illustrious refereeing career," he said.
"He is an educator by profession and I believe he's the correct person to lead this exciting new initiative.
"I have every confidence he will be hugely successful in his new role, ensuring that young referees within the academy enjoy the best possible opportunity to develop their refereeing skills."
