‘Lead the Game’ Relaunches, Empowering Veterans as Rugby League Match Officials
The pioneering joint venture between the Rugby Football League (RFL) and the Veterans Foundation has relaunched this week, offering more veterans a structured pathway towards becoming qualified match officials in the sport of rugby league.
The ‘Lead the Game’ program will engage 90 veterans this year, with participants receiving support through rugby league club foundations at Hull FC, Newcastle Rugby Foundation, and Warrington Wolves. These foundations, which already work with veterans through other initiatives, will each aim to develop 30 qualified match officials.
“In addition to gaining accreditations for officiating multiple versions of rugby league, including wheelchair and learning/physical disability variations, the participants will receive mentoring from RFL match officials’ department staff to support their professional development. To ensure accessibility, the program will provide financial assistance to help veterans travel to their respective learning and development opportunities, as well as supplying them with match official kits and whistles.”
Royal Marine-turned full-time match official Jack Smith serves as an ambassador for the program and is featured in a promotional video. Smith left the armed forces after being shot by a sniper in Afghanistan in 2010.
Program Aims and Details
- Each foundation will run two courses, with 15 participants in each session.
- Beyond the match officials’ accreditation, the program aims to improve participants’ mental well-being, support their education and progression into employment, and help veterans strengthen personal connections within their local communities.
- The ‘Lead the Game’ initiative will run until November this year.
The RFL has strong ties with the Armed Forces, engaging with them through major events, playing, coaching, mental and physical fitness sessions, and volunteering opportunities. Funding for the three-year ‘Lead the Game’ project has come from the Veterans Foundation, with matching contributions from the various partner organizations.
Veterans interested in the program can sign up through the following links:
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