TONY SPREADBURY
ONE OF THE GAME’S GREAT CHARACTERS AND CURRENT RFU HEAD OF PROFESSIONAL GAME MATCH OFFICIALS

I WAS a touch judge at Combe Down RFC, near Bath, from the age of eight, before taking up refereeing in my mid-teens once a shoulder injury had put paid to my playing days. One of my early games with the whistle was Combe Down 3rds versus Walcot 3rds and my dad was playing. I disallowed the first try he’d ever scored for Combe Down in 22 years of playing for them. ‘Knock on’, was my verdict and he said, ‘wait until I get you home.’
Throughout my ...