A History of the CUDRRS 
Exactly when the Society was
formed is not officially recorded.
However, we learned from the
venerable Laws historian, "Jimmy"
Crowe, that we were one of four referees societies active within Eastern
Counties in 1949-1950.
With the societies serving
Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, we were part of the Eastern Counties Rugby Union
Referees Society until 1999.
So in the first season of the
Millennium, we celebrated our Golden Jubilee, fifty years service to Rugby Union
Football in the University of Cambridge and the county of Cambridgeshire and the
Isle of Ely.
In 1994 when we drew up our first
five years Development Action Plan in which we set ourselves the mission of
providing "Better Refereeing for Better Rugby".
Ten years later, the RFU Referee
Department adopted a similar aim, "Better Officiating for a Better Game".
Following the decision of the
International Rugby Board in 1995 that Rugby Union should be "Open", the Game
progressively became professional.
Faced with this challenge,
refereeing in England decided to come together in geographically based
Federations to gain more influence within the Rugby Football Union.
We had the choice of staying out
East or moving West.
In 1999 we decided to "Go West"
and with the East Midlands, Hertfordshire and Warwickshire referee societies we
formed the Central Federation, the second largest grouping of rugby referees in
the RFU.
Although we changed partners, the
fellowship of Rugby has meant we have maintained good relations with our former
colleagues in Eastern Counties.
In 1996, the RFU Laws Laboratory
was established at Cambridge University. The University offered an ideal context
for trialling experimental variations to the Laws of the Game. The twenty-four
Colleges play in a closed competition and a large number of matches are played
in the two winter terms, some twelve weeks in all.
The Society organises the
refereeing of these matches. It assists in formulating the variations and
obtaining feedback from referees and players. It evaluates the experiments in
terms of their safety, ease of management and enjoyment.
The active support of referees
from both the Eastern Counties and the Central Federations has been forthcoming
and invaluable to the success of the Laws Laboratory.
CUDRRS or "Cudders" as we are
affectionately known locally, is a small but beautiful unit. However, the demands for its services
are large.
Unlike many other Societies, we
appoint to all levels of local fifteen a side matches, men, women and youth
Rugby.
With the twice a week demands of
University Colleges Rugby and the Laws Laboratory, in term time we provide
referees for matches on five days a week.
Our Society is run in a business
like and professional manner. To do so requires the dedication and commitment of
its members, all volunteers, all wanting to give to the Game.
One of our key aims is to help
our members reach their full potential. We share our knowledge and experiences,
stimulated by the friendship and fun that is a hallmark of Cambridge Rugby
Referees.
We are always on the look out for
new members who share our love of Rugby and are prepared to work to preserve its
best traditions and values.
The history making of Cambridge
University and District Rugby Referees' Society goes on
MJD / September 05.
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