NZRL Appoints Fulltime Referees’ Manager

NZRL Appoints Fulltime Referees’ Manager

Auckland, New Zealand, April 20, 2011 –

New Zealand Rugby League chief executive Jim Doyle today announced the appointment of Marc Harris as the national body’s new fulltime referees’ manager.

Australian-born Harris, currently employed as director of sport at Onehunga High School in Auckland, will take up his position at the end of May.

Doyle said upgrading the part-time role to a fulltime one was a response to both the growth in the game and the NZRL’s commitment to continuous ongoing improvement.

“By appointing Marc in this fulltime role we are ensuring greater focus goes into refereeing,” he said.

“We need more referees to cope with the increased playing numbers and we also need to work on constantly improving our refereeing standards. It’s no different to what we strive to achieve in all areas of the organisation.”

Before becoming director of sport at Onehunga High School, Harris was Avondale College’s sports co-ordinator.

As well as confirming Harris in his role, Doyle said Auckland’s Wayne Urquhart will chair a referees’ advisory group set up by the NZRL. He said the group would meet regularly to provide advice to both Harris and the NZRL’s football department.

Ian Mackintosh, who has been the part-time referees’ co-ordinator, will sit on the advisory group.

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