What started out as a way to keep fit during the pandemic morphed into a support group for referees who have been negatively affected by Covid-19.

Started by referees Cornelius Peterson and Elias Jacobs during lockdown, the group, together with Amber Lamb from the Kolisi Foundation, handed over food parcels to 15 worthy recipients at a brief ceremony at City Park Rugby Stadium recently.

Refereeing is a form of community service,’ said WP Rugby Referees’ Chairperson Joey Klaaste-Salmans. ‘Looking after your fellow colleagues who have hit hard times is taking that commitment to community service to another level. Well done to the guys.

WP Rugby Referees’ management reached out to the Kolisi Foundation and their #Each1Feed1 campaign for assistance. The initiative intends on supporting families with a food parcel for a minimum of three months to combat food insecurity during this uncertain time.

Referees plays such a critical role in the game and are often undervalued,’ says Stormers and Springbok captain Siya Kolisi. ‘Like players, they are under much pressure on the field. They rarely get the acknowledgement they deserve for the hard work and good calls they make. At the end of the day, they deserve much more praise for their dedication to the game. I am so pleased that we were able to support this initiative and help match officials during this stressful period.

Referees on the international stage are highly-paid professionals. Yet rugby at grassroots needs the services of thousands of match officials every weekend to ensure the games are played. Without a qualified referee, the game can’t happen.

Our cycling group is made up of referees from all the divisions,’ says Cornelius. ‘We are so excited at the difference we have made in the lives of our colleagues. Hopefully this programme will grow and we can spread the benefits to others in our communities.

If you are able to provide financial assistance to increase the coverage of this support campaign, please contact the Kolisi Foundation by email info@kolisifoundation.org or visit their website www.kolisifoundation.org for more information. It takes only R600 to support a family of six people for a month.