AFRICAN PIONEERS REFLECT ON HISTORIC APPOINTMENTS

Ghana and Kenya's head match officials have returned from a groundbreaking deployment to Italy, where they officiated in all three European Championship C matches. 

The week-long deployment was part of IRL's strategic investment in technical education, which began in January with pioneering coach and match officiating courses in Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya. The expansive project is intended to raise technical standards throughout the member nations, project and protect game authenticity and is being supported by further investment in market-leading development and learning resources. 

Rugby League Federation Ghana's Marshall Nortey (pictured, right) and Kenyan Rugby League Federation's Brian Odiwuory became the first African officials appointed to an official competition, with both utilised as touch judges and fourth officials in Udine for the triangular tournament featuring the hosts, Ukraine and Greece. 

The extended duty allowed them to operate in a full-time professional environment under the tutelage of French referee Enzo Peyre, and both officials agreed that a better understanding of game management was the biggest takeaway. 

"Officiating at Euro C sharpened my focus on calm, decisive game management," said Nortey. "The experience taught me that small adjustments in communication and positioning create big improvements in match control — lessons I’m excited to pass on across Ghana and the wider MEA region."

Odiwuory said: "Officiating at the Euro C Championship in Italy was not only an honor but a powerful learning journey. Working alongside top-tier officials like Enzo Peyre expanded my understanding of elite-level officiating. The exchange of knowledge, culture, and technique refined my approach to game management and law application. It reaffirmed that excellence in refereeing is built on discipline, communication, and continuous learning.”

Both leaders will now use their experiences and enhanced knowledge to strengthen local match officials in targeted areas. 

Nortey hailed a "cocktail of practical management techniques" that he will now pass onto RLFG's officials, including through practical workshops, pairing and mentorship. Similarly, Odiwuory admitted gaining a " deeper understanding of how to maintain player discipline through proactive communication using dialogue, body language, and presence to prevent or minimise infringements rather than react to them."

While both Ghana's and Kenya's 13-a-side championships in men's, women's and youth rugby league are flourishing, Euro C presented an opportunity to expose both officials to a higher standard of player, with the likes of Jett Cleary, a winner of the NRL's state championship with the Warriors last month, representing Ukraine. 

Later this month, IRL will deploy Welsh educator James Jones to Accra, where he will support RLFG's match official corps in progressing through the IRL's continuing education system, while coach and match official tutors will be deployed to Manila to conduct courses during APRL's Asian Cup. In October, head Jamaican official Kemoy Whyte refereed two games in the IRL Women's Rugby League World Series.