New Referee Kit

Getting Your Referee Kit – A Guide for New Level 1 Referees

So, you’ve completed your Level 1 course... first of all, welcome to refereeing! One of the first questions most new referees ask is “How do I get my kit?”. Don’t worry, it’s simple, and you don’t need to spend a lot to get started.

As a Level 1 referee, you’ll need to source your own kit to begin with. That might sound daunting, but in reality, most referees get started without spending much (or anything at all). As you progress through the levels, at Level 2 and Level 3, your kit will be supplied by the union.

To get out on the pitch, you don’t need much. A basic setup includes:

• Referee shirt (any colour – commonly pink, yellow, or blue)

• Black shorts

• Black socks

• Boots (any will do—just aim for a clean, professional look)

You’ll often already have:

• Whistle (usually provided on your Level 1 course)

• Yellow & red cards (also often provided)

That’s it, you’re ready to go.

The Best Option: Come to a Society Meeting

The easiest and most common way to get your kit is to come along to a Cardiff Rugby Referees’ Society meeting. This is by far the most cost-effective way to get started—and a great way to meet other referees at the same time.

📍 Llandaff RFC
📅 Every second Monday of the month (during the season)

At these meetings:

• Many referees have spare kit they’re happy to pass on

• You’ll get honest advice on what you actually need

• You can avoid spending money on things you don’t need yet

The Alternative Option: Buying Your Own Kit

If you’d prefer to buy your own kit, that’s always an option. One of our members runs i-Ref, a shop designed precisely to support newly qualified referees or those who want extra kit - you can buy this directly from Store | i-Ref. You can purchase referee kit there, and Cardiff Society-specific items will be available in the near future.

That said, there’s no expectation to buy new kit straight away - many referees build theirs up over time.

Final Thought

If you’re unsure where to begin Come to a meeting, introduce yourself, and ask.

You’ll find the refereeing community is incredibly supportive, and chances are, someone will have exactly what you need to get going.