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Premiership referee supporting next generation

From rugby player to the youngest professional referee in the country – Christophe Ridley is a believer in personal and professional development, wherever your journey takes you.

Christophe joined the University of Gloucestershire in 2013 to study Coaching as a Foundation degree, as an ex-professional player transitioning into refereeing.

“Like a lot of players, I hadn’t really thought about what happens next. I chose the course to further my education and had intended only on the foundation degree. The RFU took me on full time, but I’d really enjoyed the course so far and wanted to top it up to an honours degree. So, with agreement from the RFU and the university I was able to split the extra year between studying and working.”

Christophe started refereeing in the championship and refereed his first professional game while studying. Once his education finished he was working full time as one of the top eight rugby union officials in the country.

Christophe is currently a Premiership Referee and alongside this is still working closely with the university, supporting the referee scholarship as a consultant.

“The referee scholarship was hugely instrumental in my early career and played a big role in my development on and off the field. It taught me a great deal about the art, science and knowledge of refereeing and not just rugby. It is a unique environment and opportunity – one where I learnt to listen, to speak and learn and debate – vital skills for me now.

The scholarship is a community and network of like-minded referees and I still love being involved in the scholarship today as a tutor. The academic advice and flexibility around my refereeing also enabled me to gain my coaching degree. It was more than just a scholarship for me, it was a great experience all round.”

Christophe lived in Quay Halls, Gloucester, and enjoyed being part of a new environment, making new friends, his own decisions and gaining independence but within a halls environment which was managed by the university. And he believes that the skills he has gained at university can be transferred to the wider world of work.

“The application of what I learnt can be used in any form of life,” he added, “so doing coaching isn’t just about sport. It’s about how to develop people, how to develop yourself, so that you are more measured and better rounded. It can add value to whatever it is you decide to do next.”