Following a recent communication from the Buckinghamshire RFU Discipline Committee, clubs have been advised of a concerning increase in incidents of abuse, dissent and disrespect towards match officials across both adult and age-grade rugby.

As a result, the RFU Judicial Officer has instructed Discipline Committees to apply additional sanctions in cases involving Match Official Abuse (MOA).

We’re pleased to confirm that Amersham & Chiltern RFC continues to uphold the values we pride ourselves on and has not been identified as contributing to this trend. However, the Bucks RFU has asked that this message is shared across the entire club community — players, coaches, parents, supporters and volunteers.

As the club continues to grow and compete across multiple levels, it’s vital that respect for match officials remains a priority at all times.

Key points to note:
• Individual sanctions for such incidents are serious
• These regulations apply to all age groups, not just senior teams
• At age-grade level, Bucks RFU covers both club and school rugby
• Repeated incidents may lead to club-level sanctions, including points deductions

A&C has a strong, positive matchday atmosphere — let’s all play our part in ensuring match officials receive the respect they deserve, on and off the pitch.