English Rugby
Dooley takes up citing officer role
Scrum.com
December 22, 2008
England and Lions lock Wade Dooley, June 8 1987
Wade Dooley, seen here during England's 1987 World Cup quarter-final with Wales, has taken up a role as a citing officer for the RFU © Getty Images
Enlarge
Related Links
Players/Officials: Wade Dooley | Mike Rafter
Teams: England

Former England second-row Wade Dooley is set to make a comeback in the rugby world with a role as a citing officer for the Rugby Football Union.

Dooley, who won 55 caps for England and was selected for two British and Irish Lions tours in 1989 and 1993, will be joined in his post by fellow England international Mike Rafter and ex-England Students manager Tony Lanaway. Dooley retired from his job as a Police Officer in Blackpool last year.

"I suppose it's an extension of what I have been doing for the past 30 years - in effect it's policing rugby," said Dooley, who will scrutinise the Guinness Premiership and the new Championship, currently National Division One. "As a player I never minded the rough and tumble of the game but it needs to be a clean contest. Now with all the camera angles, players are going to be spotted if they commit any foul play; there is no hiding place."

His Honour Judge Jeff Blackett, the RFU Disciplinary Officer, now has 11 officers at his disposal to effectively police the elite game. "We are lucky in England to have a pool of exceptionally talented and well respected citing officers, all of whom have operated at the top of the game as players, referees and coaches in the past," he said. "The addition of two ex England international players in Wade and Mike and Tony's vast experience as a coach and manager will further strengthen the system and I look forward to working closely with them."

© Scrum.com

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.