The Whistlers’ Trophy is the prize competed for each season by Clubs affiliated to the Society and Cambridgeshire RFU. The trophy is a large silver whistle; 25cm x 12cm, mounted on a wooden plinth, and is awarded by the Society to the Club that has provided the best support to it during the past year.
The competition, started in 1994-95, aims to encourage Clubs to support the recruitment and retention of referees by:
- making referees feel welcomed
- appreciated and valued
- showing respect for match officials on and off the field
helping the Society to raise the standards of refereeing.
Referees assess Clubs’ performances after each match and report back to the Society. The assessment criteria have been revised over the years and now concentrate on respect and hospitality. These are the two most important factors that determine whether match officials enjoy their rugby at the Club and look forward to returning there.
Respect for Match Officials
Ten points are awarded to Clubs if their captains, players, coaches and supporters show respect for and cooperate fully with the match officials in getting the match started and completed. Points are deducted, as indicated in brackets, if the Club team should:
- fail to provide a touch judge when asked (1)
- fail to line and flag the pitch correctly (1)
- fail to give their full co-operation in pre-match preparations (2)
- dispute any of the match officials’ decisions (2)
- blatantly disregard the Laws of the Game (3)
- be cautioned (yellow card) (3)
- be sent off (5)
- abuse the referee (10)
Club Hospitality
Up to ten points may be awarded, as indicated in brackets, to reflect the degree of hospitality shown by the Home Club to the match officials:
- Club confirmed full and correct match details to the referee well in advance (1-2)
- Changing and washing facilities acceptably clean and adequate (1-2)
- Drink and meal offered to match officials (1-2)
- Match officials feel they are made welcome, appreciated and valued (1-4)
The Society’s Executive Committee then considers other factors such as: Practical help given by the Club for referee training; Hosting of Society meetings at the Club; Club support of referee recruitment and retention measures; Prompt payment by the Club of charges made for appointments; Prompt response by the Club to correspondence from the Society; Discipline on the field.
The trophy is awarded to the Club that attains the highest level of performance over all these criteria and factors.
Past Winners of the Trophy
1994-95 Sawston
1995-96 Newmarket
1996-97 Saffron Walden
1997-99 Wisbech
1999-02 Saffron Walden
2003-06 Wisbech
2006-07 Cantabrigians
2007-08 Wisbech
2008-10 Wendens Ambo
2010-11 Renegades
2011-12 Ely