The Friday Interview: David Wilkinson
In the first of a series of audio and written interviews as part of a new feature on IrishRugby.ie, young referee David Wilkinson, who works as an IRFU Referee Development Officer, talks to us about his involvement in the recent Under-18 Six Nations Festival and how he took up the whistle in the first place.
This week, journalist Coilin Duffy caught up with Enniskillen man David Wilkinson to chat about his refereeing career and particularly his officiating at the recent Under-18 Six Nations Festival, which was being held in Ireland for the first time.
He talks about the Festival, during which he touch judged the Scotland v France match and refereed the England v France tie, being a ‘young’ referee, how he got involved in refereeing (following in his father’s footsteps) and his own playing career.
He also discusses some of his big match appointments, how rugby is growing in popularity, the support that he receives from the IRFU and Owen Doyle, the head of the Union’s Referee Department, and how any prospective refs, an injured or older player or someone coming into the sport for the first time, can get involved.
The 26-year-old Wilkinson is one of a number of up-and-coming referees which the IRFU have helped nurture through the system.
He had been on the IRFU National Panel of Referees for six years and has officiated ‘A’ interprovincials, Under-20 Six Nations games and Under-18 internationals.
He has also been a touch judge for Rugby World Cup qualifiers and matches in the Nations Cup, Heineken Cup, European Challenge Cup and Magners League.
To listen to the interview in full, please click here.
Interested in becoming a referee? Click here for further details.