By The Rrugby Fan Central Team
National Collegiate Rugby has named its Panel of Referees for the 2026–27 season as it continues to expand its investment in officiating and referee development across college rugby.
The 22-member panel is expected to officiate more than 60 regular-season men’s and women’s Division I matches, along with more than 40 postseason and championship matches, according to NCR’s announcement of the 2026–27 referee panel
Now entering its second year, NCR’s referee development program is designed to create opportunities for officials while working alongside local referee societies. The initiative also includes a 13-member referee coaching panel featuring officials with experience across national and professional rugby in the United States and Canada.
“I’d like to extend a massive congratulations to those selected to the Panel of Referees and Panel of Coaches,” NCR Referee Director David Haines said. “These individuals will play a significant role in the growth and improvement of NCR, and rugby officiating as a whole.”
Why It Matters
The size of the coaching group is notable. With 13 coaches supporting a panel of 22 referees, NCR has roughly one coach for every 1.7 match officials. While that does not necessarily mean coaches will be individually assigned to referees, the structure creates the potential for relatively high-touch coaching, evaluation and feedback throughout the season.
The panel also stretches beyond the United States, with multiple officials and coaches representing Quebec. Combined with NCR’s stated intention to work in partnership with local referee societies, the structure gives developing officials access to a broader pathway while remaining connected to existing regional referee organizations.
NCR has also added a formal governance structure through its recently launched Collegiate Referee and Laws Committee (CRLC). Its responsibilities span coaching, training and education, evaluation, selection, laws, discipline and the development of assistant referees and television match officials.
2026–27 NCR Panel of Referees
- Alana Gregory — Upstate NY
- Alexander Cattermole — Potomac
- Alexandra Olshefsky — Quebec
- Andrew Cooper — RRSNY
- Benjamin Lebeaupin — New England
- Bradford Lawrence — RRSNY
- Danny O’Shea — Quebec
- Geoffrey Tancredi — New England
- Irving Montorier — Quebec
- Jay Hinkel — Indiana
- Justin X. Hale — Texas
- Kristin Russell — Mid-America
- Marquise Goodwin — Southern California
- Matthew Duncan — Minnesota
- Michael Rudzinsky — New England
- Pierre Constantin — Quebec
- Raven F Jones — Mid-South
- Robert Fanning — Northern California
- Ross Davies — Texas
- Scott Smith — Mid-America
- Timothy Levitsky — Ohio
- Wian Engelbrecht — Texas
Referee Coaches
NCR named Bob Hausler, Calum Pender, Chris Chopra Micheletti, Davey Ardrey, Frederic Aselemi, Judah Boulet, Martin Dunne, Miles McIvor, Randall Johnson, Richard Parker, Robert Gilmore, Simon Davies and Tom Beriau to its referee coaching panel.
The appointments build on NCR’s 2025–26 referee development pilot. The next step will be putting that structure into practice across more than 100 regular-season and postseason matches as the organization seeks to increase both the number and quality of officials working in college rugby.
