Ref Preview: Assmus set for MLR debut
Canada’s Chris Assmus has been given the nod to take charge of the Glendale Raptors vs. the Austin Elite in this weekend’s opening round of Major League Rugby (MLR).
The 30-year-old referee from Montreal has been involved in a number of high-profile international events including the World Series Sevens in Vancouver, Las Vegas and Hong Kong, as well as the Americas Rugby Championship.
Assmus, who was in charge of the USA vs. Maori All Blacks in 2013, says he is looking forward to the inaugural season of Major League Rugby in the States. “I am thrilled to be a part of rugby’s next chapter. If pre-season was any indication, we are in for great a campaign.”
The highly experienced referee believes the MLR will not only be a great platform to develop rugby players, but also a place where match officials and coaches can test themselves in a professional environment. “The more challenging the environment you are in, the more opportunity you give yourself to improve. MLR provides players, coaches and referees the opportunity to perform consistently in a high-performance environment. Those of us involved in the inaugural group will be tasked in making sure that environment is established and maintained,” added Assmus.
Andrew McMaster, Rugby Canada’s Manager of High Performance Match Officials mentioned that Chris’ involvement in the league is a testament to the opportunity that lays ahead for Canadian rugby with the advent of Major League Rugby:
“We have seen a number of Canadian players obtain contracts to various franchises in the US, and it is no surprise to see Chris having an opportunity to get a run out in the competition. USA Rugby and MLR have been great about wanting to get the best match officials available for the competition, and Chris’ work ethic is second to none. His successes internationally speak for themselves, but he will also bring a skill set to his matches that will really help set a good platform for some entertaining rugby. The entire Canadian refereeing community is very excited to see him in action."
Assmus also provided advice for Canadian match officials looking to take the next step towards refereeing international rugby.
“It is very difficult to shift from amateur domestic rugby to international rugby. My role as a referee development officer with BC Rugby allows me to be in touch with the game, but I must always be watching hours of high performance rugby to keep my game understanding as high as it can be. It is also important to keep contact with coaches and understand how their practice evolves. Be open, listen and do your job. Selections are outside of your control. Focusing on creating the best product possible each weekend will put you in a position to be as successful as you can be.”