Rugby union match officials Rugby union match officials Rugby union match officials are responsible for enforcing the rugby union laws of the game during a match and imposing sanctions on individuals who do not follow the rules. "Every match is under the control of match officials who consist of the referee and two touch judges or assistant referees." Further officials can be authorised depending on the level and form of the game. When the game of rugby union was developed at Rugby school, there were no official rugby referees. It was not until many years later when the game began to spread internationally that
Rugby union in American Samoa of its attention toward the seven-a-side form of the game. American Samoa competed at the Pacific Games Rugby 7's in 2011, and the Oceania Rugby 7's in 2011 and 2012. Rugby union in American Samoa Rugby union in American Samoa is a growing sport. The governing body is the American Samoa Rugby Union (ASRU), which is a full member of both the Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions (FORU) and the International Rugby Board (IRB). Rugby union has been played in American Samoa since at least 1924, but the national development of the game has been overshadowed by the popularity of