More than probably any team sport played by millions of people from all parts of the world, the rules of the game change on every pitch that sees action. From various scrummaging cadences and protocols, to boosting in lineouts, when we step off one pitch to another, the game changes. One way to maximize opportunity for success is to understand the dynamics of this change and adjust to it. On any given pitch there are three completely autonomous versions of the rules. These usually adhere to a combination of the local union rules, the national union rules, and the international union rules, except for loose interpretations, this set of rules is the most static.
Referees often have their own organizations.
For example, in the Potomac Rugby Union including Washington, DC and surrounding area clubs, the referees all belong to the Potomac Society Rugby Football Referees . This organization hosts clinics for club representatives and other people interested in the fine art of calling a match. Members of the society meet together periodically to discuss the game and specifically interpret the laws of the game. Athletes and coaches are constantly changing strategies to get an edge, so the referees must adjust to keep matches fair and fluid. Another aspect of change is related to the promotion of the game.