Former Test referee Tom Foley will leave his role with the RFU after 11 years as one of the Professional Game Match Officials Team.
This comes after the Somerset-native stepped away from international matches in the wake of the 2023 World Cup Final.
Tom Foley to leave RFU after 11 years
Foley’s referee career began in 2010 in the National Leagues, before being drafted up to the Premiership.
Following this move to the top flight, Foley officiated over 250 games, including 135 as the main match referee. He also oversaw four Premiership Finals as well.
Foley also went on to referee at Test level, taking charge of Romania v Tonga in 2011. In total, he refereed 48 Tests in total, including 16 in the Six Nations and 20 at the World Cup. He was also on the officiating team in the 2023 World Cup Final between the Springboks and All Blacks.
Per the official RFU statement, he has left his role to pursue other opportunities.
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His retirement from the game also comes after his retirement from Test refereeing following serious online abuse and death threats in the wake of the 2023 Final.
“Having reached the pinnacle in officiating at the Rugby World Cup Final, now feels the right time to take a break from the international game,” Foley said in a statement at the time. “Over the course of 13 years, I have been fortunate to officiate alongside many dedicated professionals and be involved in some of the greatest games in international rugby.
“However, the pressure and scrutiny I came under after the Rugby World Cup final, along with a torrent of criticism and abuse online, has helped to reaffirm that this is the right decision for me at this point in my life. While it’s a privilege to be at the heart of some of the sport’s most iconic moments, the increasing levels of vitriol, when the demands and expectation are so high, have led me to this moment.”
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“Working as an international match official takes you away from home for extended periods, and I am looking forward to spending more time at home with my young children. I am very grateful to my family for their support during my career; without them none of it would have been possible.”
RFU CEO, Bill Sweeney, added: “The abuse he has suffered since the Rugby World Cup final, along with other officials involved in that game, is totally unacceptable and no one should be treated in this way, doing their job for the sport they are so committed to and passionate about.
“We will do everything possible to help guard against the abuse aimed at match officials and players and would urge everyone in our game to consider the role they can play in upholding rugby values.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/test-referee-who-suffered-2023-world-cup-death-threats-and-a-torrent-of-criticism-and-abuse-retires
