Rugby is full of memories. I’ve been involved in rugby for seven decades, from being a player, a referee, a selector, an administrator and an old fart. I am one of Mr Carling’s original old farts because before the World Cup in South Africa when the England captain then was being interviewed and unfortunately went fully on air describing the RFU committee as a load of old farts, and that went out to the nation and caused all sorts of consternation but my darling wife has been very patient with my rugby over the years and said she’s known I’d been an old fart for ages.
I’ve been very lucky to have refereed and lectured on refereeing in about 37 different countries from Taipei to Trinidad, South Africa, New Zealand, and I’ve had a lot of fun and made a lot of friendships. Last night we had an old farts dinner where there were 22 of us exchanging our favourite memories.
Now I’m proud to say I’m involved with Burnley Rugby Club and also with Manchester district referee society, where I’ve been a member for 52 years and I’ve reached the height of my career as I’m now midweek appointment secretary. In other words, if Central Lancs Uni ladies playing MMU ladies want a referee then I'm the person who finds them a referee, and we have as much fun there as coming down here to Twickenham and catching up with loads of contemporaries and that to me is what rugby is all about, friendships and fun.
Peter Hughes
This memory was recorded by members of the RFU Youth Council at Twickenham during the Six Nations Championship as part of the England Rugby Sporting Memories project.
Memory added on March 23, 2015
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