Referees Mowser, Pontiflette make strides in regional series

Trinidad and Tobago’s highly rated rugby referees Paul Mowser and Anthony Pontiflette have both been selected by the North American West Indies Rugby Association (NAWIRA) to officiate at the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) Rugby World Cup 2005 Sevens Americas Zone Qualifying tournament currently taking place in the Caymans Islands. The selection of the two local referees for the two-day high profile tournament augurs well for Trinidad and Tobago as it affords Mower and Pontiflette the opportunity to be assessed for high grade.

Brian Lewis, secretary of the Trinidad and Tobago Rugby Football Union said: “Our referees have the potential to make it to the international level but the pathway is through selection on the regional panel, so this gives them the opportunity.” The recruitment and development of high quality referees is one of the objectives of the TTRFU and Lewis believes that Mowser and Pontiflette are both excellent role models in the TTRFU’s referee recruitment and development plan.