The RLEF’s Technical Strategy continued at the weekend with Match Officials Manager Steve Davis overseeing a course in Oslo, Norway.

"Rugby League Norge is to be congratulated,” said Davis, who conceived the match officials strand of the three-year capacity building project. “This course was run very professionally and in my experience as good as any course that takes place in the UK. The venue and the content of the course were top class and Jostein Ryan [lead RLN match officials tutor] has proved himself to be a very accomplished tutor. Once again this has proven the importance of the Technical Strategy and the benefits are here to see in full view of the international rugby league community.”

The project, funded by the European Commission’s Leonardo da Vinci agency to promote vocational training, has been designed to empower national governing bodies to assume greater responsibility for their technical development.

Ryan, who attended a foundation seminar in London in May 2011, qualified five Norwegian and four Swedish officials. Last week he led on another course in Demark which saw a further six local officials qualified, and which has strengthened the collaborative nature of regional match officials, including the creation of a Scandinavian RL Match Officials Society.

“The upcoming Nordic Cup now has a strong core of officials that are qualified to referee and touch judge which is a great opportunity for the officials to work together and learn as a team of officials," concluded Davis.