Issue 46/24 4th December 2024
BAFRA Newsflash | |||
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | CODE | Q | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED | |
New this week | |||||||
James Smith III | 7 | Brunel Burners | TUF | 4 | During the first quarter, this player was heard to use foul and abusive language towards an opponent. With 3:15 remaining in the fourth quarter, this player was seen simulating a weapon towards an opponent. | 8th December 2024 v Reading Knights | |
Rodrigo Canario | 7 | City Wolfpack | FGT | 3 | With 1:31 remaining in the third quarter, #7 engaged in a fight with the receiving team #30, where both players dragged the other to the ground by the facemask and refused to separate until multiple others intervened. | 2nd February 2025 v Imperial Immortals | |
Abdullah Ibrahim | 53 | DMU Lions | ASS | 1 | After the second play from scrimmage, and despite being warned, #53 deliberately and forcibly contacted an official. | 8th December 2024 v ARU Rhinos & 26th January 2025 v Lincoln Colonials | |
Kacper Sczok | 87 | Exeter Demons | FGT | 1 | The player was penalised for UC-DBS for striking an opponent. After review of footage, the calling official decided that the player should have been disqualified for fighting. | 8th December v Portsmouth Destroyers | |
Victor Osuofia | 30 | QMBL Vipers | FGT | 3 | With 1:31 remaining in the third quarter, #30 engaged in a fight with the kicking team #7, where both players dragged the other to the ground by the facemask and refused to separate until multiple others intervened. | 9th February 2025 v Imperial Immortals | |
Ryan Bradley | 42 | Sussex Saxons | FPF | 4 | Kicked the head of an opponent who was prone on the ground. | 9th February 2025 v Oxford Brookes | |
Previous weeks | |||||||
Micah Adeolokun | 66 | ARU Rhinos | TUF | 3 | After the play was over, #66 was seen going into a group of opposing players, forcibly pushing and shoving a player. Several seconds later, as #66 was being separated from the opposing players, in a clear separate act, #66 used a tirade of foul and abusive language directed toward the opposing team. | 8th December 2024 v DMU Lions | |
Jake Steele | 79 | Solent Redhawks | FPF | 4 | Head-butted an opponent. | 26th January 2025 v RHUL Bears | |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
Birmingham Lions | No team areas. The field was marked in black and exceptionally faint in the low sun. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | 26th January 2025 v SGS Pride |
Brighton Panthers | 100-yard artificial field with very dark blue markings on a dark green surface, which made the lines difficult to see. No numbers and no space behind goalposts. Darren Urben #438 | 8th December 2024 v Hertfordshire Hurricanes |
Cardiff Cobras | 90-yard field with seven-yard end zones, faintly marked in yellow. Team areas were marked with cones. The kickoff was delayed by game management supplying officials' assistants late. Changing room shared with officials from other sports. Euan Paterson #165 | 19th January 2025 v Portsmouth Destroyers |
Edge Hill Vikings | Field markings below the required standards. No limit lines or numbers. No coaches or team areas were marked. Only four pylons were available, so the end lines were marked with cones. NFL-width hash marks. Upon arrival, 1.5 hours before the game, the changing facilities were unavailable. The changing facilities were opened one hour before the scheduled kickoff time. This hampered the officials' pre-game and also the away team's warm-up. As a result, it was agreed with both teams to move the kickoff time back by 15 minutes. With 6:00 remaining in the fourth quarter, the Head Coach for the away team informed the official on his sideline that, due to player injuries, he felt he could not finish the game safely with his remaining players and therefore would like to forfeit the game. Steve Hall #512 | 9th February 2025 v Lancaster Bombers |
Glasgow University Tigers | The game kicked off 61 minutes late as, despite a similar delay for their last home game, Glasgow had to re-mark all four sets of short-yard line extensions (as the chain crew were tasked with this, it then delayed their briefing). A miscommunication with the collection of their own jerseys had Edinburgh having to borrow Glasgow's alternative shirts. Ali May #42 | 9th February 2025 v Stirling Clansmen |
Hertfordshire Hurricanes | Mixed sports markings, but the field were markings very clear. One assistant changed at half-time Ben Gadsby #564 | 26th January 2025 v Brunel Burners |
Leeds Beckett Carnegie | 80-yard field. No limit lines. No three-yard marks, nine-yard marks, or numbers. Several other sports markings were present in close proximity to the end zones. Team areas were marked out using cones. The game balls required inflation prior to use. David Hewitt #607 | 2nd February 2025 v Loughborough Students |
Leicester Longhorns | The chain crew were changed during the game. NFL-width hash marks. Three-yard marks at the two-yard line. Andrew Lovell #559 | 26th January 2025 v Sheffield Hallam Warriors |
Liverpool Raptors | Field markings were below the required standards. No limit lines or numbers. No team areas or coaches areas were marked out and several lines were crooked. Steve Hall #512 | 8th December 2024 v Warwick Wolves |
Loughborough Students | Very faint yard lines and hash marks. No team areas. No three-yard marks. Brian Yates #29 | 16th February 2025 v Durham Saints |
Newcastle Raiders | No painted limit lines or team areas. Team areas were marked with cones. Kenneth Glover #71 | 19th January 2025 v Leeds Gryphons |
QMBL Vipers | Markings in blue on a rugby field marked in white. Goal posts slightly outside the end lines. The field became very muddy throughout the game, especially between the hashes. The female officials' changing room was also used for female away players and lacks a door handle to the main corridor so has to be accessed from the other side. Daniel Clarke #311 | 16th February 2025 v Greenwich Mariners |
Southampton Stags | The stags set out a nice spread of sandwiches, crisps, and drinks for the officials which is always welcome. Keith Wickham #423 | 26th January 2025 v Bournemouth Bobcats |
York Centurions | Field markings below full standards. The field was marked in red and was difficult to see in places, it will need remarking, preferably in white before the next game at this venue. There were no nine-yard marks or numbers. Team areas, Coaching areas, and Limit lines were missing. The changing rooms were approximately 500 metres from the Car Park, and the field was a further 200 metres from the changing rooms. There were only three toilets for everyone using the Sports fields (1 male, 1 female, and 1 disabled toilet). The Changing rooms were not lockable and were only sufficient for approximately three people. Ben Griffiths #228 | 2nd February 2025 v York St John Jaguars |
YSJ Jaguars | Field markings below full standards. The field was marked in red and was difficult to see in places, it will need remarking, preferably in white before the next game at this venue. The field was marked as a 90-yard field with five-yard end zones. The Pylons were positioned to make an 80-yard field with ten-yard endzones. There were no nine-yard marks or numbers. Team areas, Coaching areas, and Limit lines were missing. The short yard-line extensions were approximately four yards long and were marked too far from the sideline (approximately NFL-width.) A member of the Sports Centre Ground staff approached the officials after the game asking how the field was, apparently he believed it to be well marked, and he was politely advised it fell well short of full standards. The changing rooms and car park were approximately 700 metres from the field. The Changing rooms were not lockable and were only sufficient for one person. The length of the chain was approximately 9.5 yards between stakes. All three game balls provided were below legal pressure with one requiring significant inflation. It was observed that the numerals on the back of the Visiting Team’s (Sunderland Spartans’) jerseys were only five inches high. As they had no alternate Jerseys available, they were penalised in accordance with the rules. Ben Griffiths #228 | 26th January 205 v York Centurions |
Outstanding items from previous weeks | ||
Bournemouth University Bobcats | The team are playing on a new multi-use artificial field, so there are markings for other sports. This meant that the team areas were not painted, but this wasn’t a problem, as the use of white soccer markings substituted for the coaches box. Simon Ryan | 19th January 2025 v Swansea Titans |
Bristol Barracuda | The crew were offered two changing rooms capable of housing three people comfortably. This made conducting the pre-game discussion a little cramped. The field markings (black) were sometimes difficult to see under the floodlights for this night game and were a little faint. Mark Schofield #557 | 6th December 2024 v Swansea Titans |
Brunel Burners | 90-yard field with clear markings. No numbers or nine-yard marks. The coaching box and team areas were marked to the 15-yard lines. No limit lines. The changing room is a short walk from the field at the main pavilion and was not lockable. Pete Parsons #321 | 8th December 2024 v Reading Knights |
Chichester Spitfires | 90-yard rugby field. End zones are short and not necessarily the same size. The team areas were marked to 12 yards instead of 12 feet. Changing rooms were neither private nor lockable, but the crew were able to leave bags at reception. Daniel Clarke #311 | 9th February 2025 v RHUL Bears |
City Wolfpack | 80-yard field with eight-yard end zones marked in pink with other sports markings in white. Main yard lines were approximately 5.5 yards apart. The short yard-line extensions at the sidelines and the hash marks were not a consistent distance apart. No team areas, limit lines, numbers, or nine-yard marks. The visiting team protested the field markings prior to kick off and with 9:07 remaining in the second quarter (with the score at 26-6) they refused to continue with the game citing player safety and injuries to their already small (24 players at KO) squad. Tim Ockendon #481 | 2nd February 2025 v Imperial Immortals |
Coventry University Jets | Markings are blue on green artificial turf. No nine-yard marks or numbers. One of the first three game balls provided was flat but a suitable replacement was found. Richard Whitby #136 | 2nd February 2025 v Sheffield Hallam Warriors |
Derby Braves | Three-yard marks marked every five yards on field. ARU conceded the game at the start of the fourth quarter due to having too few players. Andrew Lovell #559 | 8th December 2024 v Lincoln Colonials |
Durham Saints | No limit lines. No three-yard marks. The team areas were missing but marked out using cones. Some lines were faint in places and were difficult to see once the floodlights came on. There were several other sports markings in close proximity to the endzones. The game balls required inflation prior to use. David Hewitt #607 | 8th February 2025 v Leeds Beckett Carnegie |
Edinburgh Mavericks | Team area markings were missing, so they were marked with cones. Kenneth Glover #71 | 26th January 2025 v Aberdeen Bulls |
Edinburgh Napier Knights | Field surface was very soft underfoot, but a very well marked out field. Gordon Galloway #7 | 2nd February 2025 v Glasgow Tigers |
Exeter Demons | 90-yard field with seven-yard end zones. Field lines in red with yard line extensions in blue. No numbers or nine-yard marks. Team areas marked with cones on one sideline only. Car parking is now chargeable (£1) via PaybyPhone app. Euan Paterson #165 | 8th December 2024 v Portsmouth Destroyers |
Greenwich Mariners | 90-yard field, with eight-yard end zones, marked faintly with blue lines; with other sports markings in yellow, white, and red. No numbers or limit lines and rugby markings approximated for nine-yard marks. The down box was broken, so the numbers “2” and “3” did not show when selected. Large shared changing room in the SU but not lockable. Graham Smith #149 | 8th December 2024 v Imperial Immortals |
Heriot-Watt Wolverines | Team area markings were missing, so they were marked with cones. Kenneth Glover #71 | 19th January 2025 v Glasgow University Tigers |
Hull Sharks | No limit lines. No team areas but marked out with cones. No three-yard marks, nine-yard marks, or numbers. There were several other sports markings on the field, some in close proximity to the end zones. NFL-width hash marks. One game ball needed inflating prior to the game. David Hewitt #607 | 19th January 2025 v Leicester Longhorns |
Kingston Cougars | Well-marked 100-yard field in white. The limit lines are only marked on the home team's side of the field. Team areas were marked out with cones but coaching and team area lines were marked with cones on the home team’s sideline only. Kick-off was delayed by 20 minutes due to the late arrival of medical cover. The changing room was well-appointed but not lockable. Tim Ockendon #481 | 19th January 2024 v Canterbury Christ Church Chargers |
Lancaster Bombers | 80-yard field marked in blue, with other sports markings in different colours. The coaches and players boxes were too close to the sideline but both teams were well disciplined and gave the crew plenty of room. A poppy was marked at midfield for Remembrance Sunday. The balls that were handed to the officials before the game required significant inflation. Lee Taylor #183 | 26th January 2024 v Staffordshire Stallions |
Leeds Gryphons | 80-yard field. No three-yard marks, nine-yard marks, or numbers. Several other sports markings were present in close proximity to the end zones. Team areas were missing but marked out using cones. All three game balls were actually overinflated and required adjusting prior to use. David Hewitt #607 | 9th February 2025 v NTU Renegades |
LJMU Fury | Field markings below full standards. No nine-yard marks or numbers. No limit lines, team areas or coaching boxes. Several of the main lines were crooked. two small cchanging rooms supplied for 4 officials, seperate area used for pre game and halftime discussions. Steve Hall #512 | 2nd February 2025 v Northumbria Mustangs |
Manchester Tyrants | No team or coaching areas so they were marked with cones. There was a ten-minute delay to kickoff due to the late arrival of medical staff. John Roberts #145 | 8th December 2024 v LJMU Fury |
Nottingham Gold | Coaching boxes less than six feet from the sidelines and the team areas were less than 12 feet from the sidelines. Goal line and sidelines were double marked and all yard lines double marked in a different colours. After three requests for a chain crew, they were available for briefing less than five minutes before kick-off. Richard Whitby #136 | 7th December 2024 v Loughborough Students |
Nottingham Green | Field marked in red. The team areas were too close to the sideline. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | 8th December 2024 v Loughborough Students |
NTU Renegades | Field marked in red. The team areas were too close to the sideline. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | 8th December 2025 v Newcastle Raiders |
Oxford Brookes | 100-yard field marked in (mostly) blue. The lines are quite faint and became harder to see as it got darker. No marked coaching box or team areas, however, some rugby markings were used to approximate the position of the team areas. No limit lines. One member of the chain crew changed at half-time. Peter Parsons #321 | 9th February 2025 v Sussex Saxons |
Oxford Lancers | The game was not played due to The Parks being closed due to Storm Bert. Peter Parsons #321 | 19th January 2025 v Brunel Burners |
Portsmouth Destroyers | 90-yard field, which has been repainted in a new pink colour. The team and coaching areas were still missing, but the quality of the overall markings was much improved from the last game. Oliver Maskell #221 | 2nd February 2025 v SGS Pride |
Plymouth Blitz | The pitch was marked with NFL-width hash marks, so cones were used to mark the correct width. Numbers marked on the field on the major yard lines were incorrect and were five yards out of sync. Sideline markers were used to mark the correct yard lines. Changing rooms were very small for officials. Dave Moore #92 | 26th January 2025 v Gloucestershire Gladiators |
RHUL Bears | No three-yard marks for try attempts. Team areas marked out with cones. No dedicated changing room, so the crew changed in public changing rooms in sports centre. There was a brief stoppage in the third quarter as a drone was observed in the proximity of the playing area, which was reported to game day management who asked the operator to ground it, which they did. Andrew Murrell #608 | 26th January 2025 v Solent Redhawks |
Sheffield Hallam Warriors | Posts are set a yard back from the marked end line. The changing room was too small for a crew of five. The home team had a few jerseys of an old design, predominantly burgundy rather than predominantly black, due to their new kit not arriving in time. Joel Pearson #405 | 8th December 2024 v Hull Sharks |
Solent Redhawks | 100-yard field, mostly marked in yellow apart from the midfield line (white) and the majority of the ten-yard lines (dark colour). Team areas were marked between the 25-yard lines. Peter Parsons #321 | 2nd February 2025 v Oxford Brookes |
Sussex Saxons | Three-yard marks were marked at the two-yard line. End zones were approximately 11 yards deep. Chains kept breaking throughout the game. The whole chain crew was changed at half-time. Dean Wright #553 | 16th February 2025 v Surrey Stingers |
Swansea Titans | Sidelines, goal lines, and end lines have been re-marked in red and are noticeably clearer than in the previous game. The original black yard-line extensions were not redone and are fainter. 100-yard field with nine-yard endzones and NFL-width hash marks. No end line pylons were available to assist with spotting the ball. No three-yard marks, team areas, coaching areas, or limit lines. Due to a booking problem, the home team's medical cover was not present at the game. Thankfully, the visiting team's medic was a qualified sports therapist and was able to stand in as the game's medical cover. Amir Brooks #593 | 2nd February 2025 v Bristol Barracuda |
Tarannau Aberystwyth | Kick-off was delayed for one hour due to the Away team forgetting some Jerseys. As such, quarters were reduced to ten minutes due to light concerns. However, the away team were able to provide two of the three game balls. Kieran Smith #102 | 16th February 2025 v Plymouth Blitz |
UCLan Rams | The game started ten minutes later than the scheduled kickoff time. This was because the field was not ready for play due to pre-match ceremonies overrunning. Game balls were only made available to the officials five minutes before the scheduled kickoff time and were found to be under-inflated. The pump supplied to inflate the balls to the correct pressure was broken and a new pump had to be sought. Officials assistants were not made available until after the scheduled kickoff time. Field markings were below the required standard with no numbers, limit lines, team areas, or coaching areas marked. The lines were dark blue and became difficult to see as the day got darker, this was not helped by the fact that the lines were faint and required remarking. Steve Hall #512 | 8th December 2024 v Northumbria Mustangs |
UCL Emperors | Short-yard line extensions were small and only completed shortly before kick-off. The field surface is devoid of grass in places. The balls provided were fairly old and dirty. Changing rooms have no working light or toilet, but are lockable. Lee Wood #517 | 26th January 2025 v UEA Pirates |
UWE Bullets | No Limit Lines. Two small changing rooms were provided, so the crew was split up - but the rooms were lockable and had showers. Oliver Maskell #221 | 7th December 2024 v Durham Saints |
Warwick Wolves | Changing rooms were not lockable. Field marking were in a dark colour and slightly offset from other sports markings. Kieran Smith #102 | 2nd February 2025 v Leeds Gryphons |
PLAY OF THE WEEK: | |
New this week | Play: 4th and 20 at the A-10 yard line. A strong wind is blowing from Team B’s Goal Line towards Team A’s Goal Line. Team A line up in a scrimmage kick formation; A99 punts the ball and it goes high in the air. The ball travel forwards to approximately the Team A 15 yard line where it is blown backwards, while still in the air the ball crosses the sideline at the A-3, after being kicked, the ball first touches the gound behind Team A’s endline.
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Last week | Play: A play ends inbounds with 1:03 left in the 4th quarter and the game clock continues to run. Five seconds later, an official sees an injured player and stops the clock.
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MECHANICS: | |
New this week | Game Situation: Prior to the game, when visiting the home team Head Coach they inform the Referee and Umpire that if their team are to kick-off at the start of the game they will be attempting an onside kick. At the Coin toss the visiting team wins and elects to receive; should the crew move to onside kick positions?
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Last week | Game Situation: Ball relay. On a 4 man crew the wing official will almost always be covering a dead ball spot near the sidelines. How should the Referee and Umpire work together to ensure that a ball is brought quickly into the new inbounds spot. Answer: M5.8.7.a The Referee and Umpire share the roles of retriever and spotter, with whomever is nearer the ball being the retriever (obtaining a ball from a ball boy or player) and the other being the spotter (placing the ball at the inbounds spot). |
Date | Event | Contact for details |
2025 | ||
BAFRA Directors | |||||
President | David Parsons | General Secretary | Richard Moger | ||
Finance | Stuart Tabberer | Operations | Oliver Maskell | ||
Recruitment | Susannah Taylor | Training | James Ford-Bannister | ||
Director without Portfolio #1 | Peter Parsons | Director without Portfolio #2 | Steve Tonkinson | ||
The opinions expressed in this Newsflash are those of the contributors, and not necessarily of BAFRA or its Directors. All Incident Reports to be submitted via www.bafra.info. Deadline for articles submitted by email (newsflash@bafra.info) is midnight Tuesday. |
