Issue 15/26 7th May 2026
BAFRA Newsflash | |||
DISCIPLINARY UPDATE
Last week’s Newsflash reported that Rhys Maiing of the Shropshire Revolution was disqualified from a game on for Two Unsportsmanlike Conduct Fouls. However, the disqualification has been cancelled cancelled after the crew concluded that the player only committed one Unsportsmanlike Conduct Foul.
Ben Griffiths - BAFA Disciplinary Officer
DISCIPLINARY CASES
NAME | # | TEAM | OFFENCE | SUSPENDED |
New this week | ||||
Ben Attah | 30 | Glasgow Tigers | Fighting | Suspension Served |
David Odutoolu-Oluwanya | 7 | Kent Exiles (U19) | Fighting | 10th May 2026 v South London Renegades |
Brendon Pasipangodya | 7 | Kent Exiles (U19) | Fighting | 10th May 2026 v South London Renegades |
Brandan King | 52 | Leigh Miners | Flagrant Unsportsmanlike Conduct | 24th May 2026 v Rossendale Bucks |
Harrison Brown | 12 | Solent Seahawks | Fighting | 17th May 2026 v Rushmoor Knights |
William Hicks | 12 | Solent Seahawks | Fighting | 17th May 2026 v Rushmoor Knights |
Previous weeks | ||||
Darrion Banton-Wright | 9 | Manchester Titans U19 | Two Unsportsmanlike Fouls | 17th May 2026 v Highland Wildcats |
James Simpson | 74 | Nottingham Caesars | Misconduct | 30th May v Manchester Titans |
Steven Godward | 65 | Yorkshire Rams | Fighting | 17th May 2026 v Chester Romans |
GAME MANAGEMENT REPORTS
HOME TEAM | REPORT | NEXT HOME GAME |
New this week | ||
Birmingham Bulls | A well-marked field. The locker room was a converted shipping container but is lockable. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | 21st June 2026 v Leigh Miners |
Birmingham Lions (NWFL) | Late change of venue due to double booking at the team's normal venue. Every effort had been made to ensure the game went ahead, but the 90-yard field was incorrectly marked with five-yard lines and short yard line extensions unevenly spaced (and occasionally double marked). With consultation with BAFA and both teams, it was agreed that it was suitable for play and the crew would be more reliant on the (correct length) chain than would ordinarily be the case. The field was marked in white, with rugby markings in white as well. Team areas marked with cones and no limit lines, numbers, or nine-yard marks. Sideline number markers were also missing. The facility is nice, but the changing room was suitable for only three officials and was not locked during the game. However, water was provided in the locker room. There was one temporary change of ball person in the second half due to their dog requiring a walk, and also one change to the chain crew. James Ford-Bannister #479 | 13th June 2026 v Manchester Titans |
Birmingham Lions (U19) | A well-marked field. The locker room was a converted shipping container but is lockable. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | 31st May 2026 v Nottingham Caesars |
Bristol Aztecs | 100-yard field marked in blue with other markings in white. Two sets of hash marks. Team areas marked between the 25-yard lines. Euan Paterson #165 | 13th June 2026 v Rushmoor Knights |
Glasgow Tigers | Officials were given a very small changing room that was big enough for two people (although it had a shower). The crew were then given a martial arts dojo room with only chairs. Coaches boxes were nine feet away from the sideline. Playing lines marked in blue. Shawn Sombati #15 | 10th May 2026 v Inverclyde Goliaths |
Ipswich Cardinals | Team areas and coaches box only marked to the 30-yard lines. The changing room was small but lockable and just fit four officials. Lee Wood #517 | 17th May 2026 v Norwich Devils |
Ipswich Cardinals (U19) | Team areas and coaches box only marked to the 30-yard lines. Some holes were found in the field and filled prior to kick off. The changing room was small but lockable and just fit four officials. Lee Wood #517 | 17th May 2026 v Hertfordshire Cheetahs |
Kent Exiles | 90-yard well-marked field in white. No numbers, nine-yard marks, or limit lines. The field was uneven in places. The home provided a great game day experience for fans with a scoreboard and food/drink available. The field is a significant walk from the changing rooms, which weren't lockable and did not include private showers. Two rooms were provided for a mixed-gender crew. James Ford-Bannister #479 | 10th May 2026 v London Olympians |
Kent Exiles (U19) | 90-yard well-marked field in white. No numbers, nine-yard marks, or limit lines. The field was uneven in places. The home provided a great game day experience for fans with a scoreboard and food/drink available. The field is a significant walk from the changing rooms, which weren't lockable and did not include private showers. Two rooms were provided for a mixed-gender crew. A crew member was contacted during a melee resulting in multiple disqualifications and, as a result, did not continue for the remaining two and half minutes of the game. James Ford-Bannister #479 | 10th May 2026 v South London Renegades |
Lancaster Bombers | The field was natural grass marked in blue with other sports markings in white. No team or coaches areas marked, no three-yard marks, nine-yard marks, or numbers. All three game balls required inflation prior to use. One small changing room large enough for two people was provided for officials, albeit with a private toilet & shower. Given this was a varsity event, numerous other sports were taking place at the venue and the changing room was shared with other officials and was not lockable. Ian Rogers #625 | Unknown |
Leigh Miners | A 90-yard natural grass field, well-marked in blue with other sports markings in white. There were no numbers and the field was uneven with a slope towards the press box side of the field. The officials changing room was of a good size, suitable for the crew of six, although there was no private shower or toilet. Ian Rogers #625 | 31st May 2026 v Birmingham Bulls |
Lincolnshire Bombers | No private changing room was available. The referees’ room seated two and was used for storage, and other sports teams were also using the facility. The field surface was far from ideal, containing a number of mole-made divots, and rocks and bottlecaps had to be removed from the field. Joel Pearson #405 | 24th May 2026 v Humber Warhawks |
Manchester Titans | The game kicked off ten minutes late to allow sufficient time between the end of the previous game. Field markings below full standards. The field was marked in black, as this was the second game on this field on the same day, the field markings were starting to fade and need to be fully re-marked before the next game at this venue. There were a number of issues with the field markings. The Football markings were in black, and there were markings for other sports in Dark Blue and White. These were close to the Football markings and sometimes caused confusion. The small-sided soccer markings were sewn in the field, and one of these markings came away during warm-ups, which created a trip hazard. This was identified and fixed before the scheduled kick-off time. There were no limit lines. There were no showers or washing facilities available for the officials. There was one disabled toilet to which the officials had access. Ben Griffiths #228 | 20th June 2026 v East Kilbride Pirates |
Manchester Titans (NWFL) | The crew used the media room as changing facilities. The crew were given a key to lock the room prior to kickoff. No private toilets or showers. Lee Taylor #183 | 20th June 2026 v Teesside Steelers |
Nottingham Caesars (U19) | 90-yard field. Changing rooms were lockable Krister Halvorsen #77 | 14th June 2026 v Sheffield Giants |
Nottingham Gold | Coaching boxes too close to the sideline. No changing available so the crew used single-occupancy rooms and held pregame in the corridor. Plaudits to both teams for creating a professional and entertaining atmosphere for Varsity day, even if the dance performances delayed the start of the quarters. Joel Pearson #405 | Unknown |
Oxford Saints | The crew were approached by the Portsmouth HC during half time of the U19 game to note that they were not happy with the warm-up area provided by the home team prior to having access to the main field, and requested to push the kickoff time back so they could have more time to warm up on the main field. The HC was advised that warm-up areas are Gameday Management's responsibility and not BAFRA. After the first game finished, both HC's were consulted and kick off was pushed back by 15 minutes but Portsmouth remained aggrieved. No team areas marked, but cones were used. No coaches’ lines, players’ lines, or limit lines. The home team provided a PA announcer for the Senior game, which was a nice touch, and who only spoke during breaks in play, and not while teams were huddled or in formation. Andrew Murrell #608 | 10th May 2026 v Sussex Thunder |
Sheffield Giants | 90-yard field. No nine-yard marks or numbers. No team areas marked out but teams used a combination of cones and other sports markings. Several other sports markings were present on the field, some in close proximity to the endzones. There was one change of chain crew at half time. David Hewitt #607 | 10th May 2026 v Newcastle Vikings |
Shropshire Revolution | Multiple issues. The field still has many divots. The down box operator changed three times in-game. The field was marked for multiple sports, all marked in white. No team or coaches box for visiting team. Andrew Lovell #559 | 28th June 2026 v Staffordshire Surge |
Solent Thrashers | A few minor stoppages for injuries. The regular chain crew at Southampton are the best in Britain. Dean Wright #553 | 28th June 2026 v Hereford Stampede |
Somerset Wyverns | The changing rooms were a meeting room, as the referee's room was too small and unusable. This meeting room was not secure and players were able to walk through it to get to the changing rooms. The game was suspended for approximately 25 mins, in the first quarter, to deal with a serious injury to a player. Dave Moore #92 | 24th May 2026 v Swindon Storm |
South Wales Warriors | Faint yellow markings that had not been re-marked since game one. At times, the short yard line extensions were inconsistent in length on either sideline and in the middle. Several wavy lines. No nine-yard marks. No team area line. The officials' changing room was improved from previous seasons with an astroturf floor. Chairs provided. Limited privacy as external French doors have clear glass with no curtain. No immediate wash facilities, but separate shower facilities in the adjacent stand could be made available, but they were reserved for female players. A stadium microphone was provided, which had spotty reception. A brief delay occurred due to an injury to an official, so the game was completed with the remaining four officials. Stuart Tabberer #348 | 17th May 2026 v Solent Thrashers |
Outstanding items from previous weeks | ||
Berkshire Renegades | Well marked 100 yard field with painted team areas marked only to the 25 but were amended using cones. Goal posts were uncovered on arrival but were covered prior to kick off. Changing rooms are 2 small rooms at the back of the facilities that had no coat hooks or reasonable space even for 4 officials. We locked our bags in the cars and used the car park at half time. Scott Castle #626 | 17th May 2026 v Ouse Valley Eagles |
Black Country Steelers | The officials’ changing room was not lockable, but it did have its own shower and adjacent toilets. 90-yard field with seven-yard endzones. Field markings were in blue and rather faint. Amir Brooks #593 | 31st May 2026 v Shropshire Revolution |
Bristol Aztecs | Field marked in blue, other markings in white. Jed Brookes-Lewis #395 | 13th June 2026 v Rushmoor Knights |
Chester Romans | Field markings below full standards. 90 yd field well marked in dark blue. No limit lines, numbers, coaches areas or team areas were marked. The officials had to stop play for a few minutes in Q2 and in Q4 as the gameday medic just walked off the field of play. It transpires that the medic left for a comfort break on both occasions. Play was restarted when they returned. Several changes of Down Box Operator during the game. Late in the 4th quarter their was a stoppage of approx 25 minutes to deal with a serious injury. Steve Hall #512 | 17th May 2026 v Yorkshire Rams |
Chester Romans (U19) | Field markings below full standards. 90 yard field well marked in dark blue, no limit lines, no numbers, no team areas or coaching areas were marked. Steve Hall #512 | 17th May 2026 v Nottingham Caesars |
Clyde Valley Blackhawks | No limit lines, numbers, or nine-yard marks. Henry Richardson #25 | 17th May 2026 v Sheffield Giants |
Darlington Steam | Hashmarks & short yard line extensions were only 18 yards from sideline. No coaches boxes. Shawn Sombati #15 | 10th May 2026 Gateshead Senators |
East Kent Mavericks | 90-yard artificial field marked in blue, with other sport markings in yellow and white. Team areas were marked between the 25-yard lines. No numbers or nine-yard marks present, so rugby lines at approximately the correct depth were used instead. The officials' changing rooms were both well-appointed, but were not lockable. Due to a lack of available gameday assistants, the away team agreed to supply one ball person. There was one medical suspension lasting longer than five minutes to allow the injured player to be stabilised and moved off the field on a scoop stretcher. Phil Clarke #262 | 10th May 2026 v Colchester Gladiators |
East Kilbride Pirates (U19) | No limit lines, numbers or nine-yard marks. Henry Richardson #25 | 10th May 2026 v Lancashire Buccaneers |
Gateshead Senators | Both goals sat at a jaunty offset angle! The changing room was a committee room with no showers, no privacy, and was not lockable. The chain crew was changed in full at halftime. Gordon Galloway #7 | 31st May 2026 v Darlington Steam |
Humber Warhawks | Whilst toilet and shower facilities were available, the officials' changing facilities were a disabled toilet; seats were provided for officials. The 90-yard grass field was well marked, and gameday management had to fill potholes and divots prior to the game. Team areas were marked out; however, there was no line to separate the team from the coaches' box. Dave Black #574 | 10th May 2026 v Lancashire Buccaneers |
Lancashire Buccaneers (U19) | No limit lines, number, or nine-yard marks. With 2:38 remaining in the third quarter, the Umpire had a fall and required treatment from the game day medical staff. The Umpire was removed from the game and transferred to a hospital with, what was later confirmed as, a broken clavicle. The crew continued as a crew of three. Later, with 3:21, remaining in the fourth quarter, one of the Lancashire players went down with a shoulder injury. Gameday medics decided that the player could not be moved and an ambulance was called for. The game was suspended at this point. After an hour's wait for an ambulance, with the score at 19:19, and both teams facing long bus journeys home, the Head Coaches in agreement with the Referee decided to end the match. Henry Richardson #25 | 17th May 2026 v East Kilbride Pirates |
London Blitz | Due to a financial incentive, there were nine officials’ assistants unable to decide among themselves who should have the opportunity, so coin tosses were used to select the appropriate number. Some areas of the field were majority sand, and lines were faint in these areas. Field conditions and officials’ facilities improved compared to last season, though the new changing room is also the water point for teams. One set of hashes is too narrow, meaning the posts are in the centre of the field but not the centre of the hashes. No hot water available for showers. Ben Gadsby #564 | 10th May 2026 v Rushmoor Knights |
London Blitz B | Changes to one ball person at half time. One member of the chain crew changed during the first quarter and again at half time. Some areas of the field were majority sand, and lines were faint in these areas. Field conditions and officials’ facilities improved compared to last season, though the new changing room is also the water point for teams. Ben Gadsby #564 | 31st May 2026 v Portsmouth Dreadnoughts |
Merseyside Nighthawks | 100-yd turf field. There were no numbers, nine yard marks, limit lines or team area markings.Two of the three game balls lost pressure during the game. The changing room had no private shower or toilet facilities. Ian Rogers #625 | 7th June 2026 v East Kilbride Pirates |
Norwich Devils | No numbers or nine-yard marks. Brian Yates #29 | 14th June 2026 v Berkshire Renegades |
Nottingham Caesars | Field markings in blue and faint. Other sports markings in blue, white, and yellow made spotting the ball difficult at times. No team areas marked. No numbers or nine-yard marks. The changing rooms were three small rooms with no private toilet facilities. The game was suspended for 15 minutes with 1:52 remaining in the game due to an injury to a Nottingham player. Brian Yates #29 | 30th May 2026 v Manchester Titans |
Oxford Saints | A well-marked 100-yard field in blue. Other markings present in white. Two changing rooms provided and lockable on request of the front desk staff. The home team provided a stadium announcer. James Ford-Bannister #479 | 3rd May 2026 v Portsmouth Dreadnoughts |
Rushmoor Knights | 100-yard field, which appears to be very well marked, but, when you stand in line with the hash marks, you can see they get a bit wavy up the field. Team Areas only marked to the 25-yard lines. Balls were presented under-inflated. Several changes to the gameday assistants at half time. The changing room was only just big enough for a crew of five, but no private toilet and others are bound to get soaked if the shower is used. Goals are extensions on a soccer goal and are therefore too wide. With three minutes remaining in the third quarter, a Wembley player suffered a serious injury and the game was suspended for 50 minutes whilst an ambulance attended. Oliver Maskell #221 | 17th May 2026 v London Blitz |
Rushmoor Knights (U19) | 100-yard field, which appears to be very well marked, but, when you stand in line with the hash marks, you can see they get a bit wavy up the field. Team Areas only marked to the 25-yard lines. Balls were presented under-inflated. Several changes to the gameday assistants at half time. The changing room was only just big enough for a crew of five, but no private toilet and others are bound to get soaked if the shower is used. Rushmoor U19s always have a good crowd at their fixtures, and the atmosphere is good but more needs to be done to ensure spectators are kept a safe distance from the field, and distinguished from the team area. Oliver Maskell #221 | 17th May 2026 v Solent Seahawks |
Solent Seahawks (U19) | The changing rooms given to the officials were too small to fit six officials, as other changing rooms were not available on the day. Field markings shared with other sports markings. The team areas were only marked to the 25-yard lines. All game balls were below legal pressure and required inflation. The game had to be paused to find the medic who had wandered off the field to sit in their car. Crew informed at half time that the venue would be closing in 30 minutes. It was agreed with both head coaches and the venue staff that the third quarter would be shortened to eight minutes and the fourth quarter would be a running clock to get the game completed. Venue staff kindly agreed to stay later to facilitate the changes. Jon Ireland #508 | 21st June 2026 v Rushmoor Knights |
Solent Thrashers (NWFL) | 100 yard field re-painted with other sports lines used in conjunction with the field. Brief pause to replace ball person near the end of the game. Scott Castle #626 | 6th June 2026 v London Warriors |
Swindon Storm | Team areas marked to the 25-yard lines. Changing rooms were not lockable. Euan Paterson #165 | 14th June 2026 v Somerset Wyverns |
Teesside Steelers (NWFL) | 100-yd turf field with extremely faint markings, particularly the hash marks. No nine-yard marks, team or coaching boxes marked. No limit lines. There was a short stoppage in the first half whilst the chains were repaired. Ian Rogers #625 | 16th May 2026 v London Warriors |
PLAY OF THE WEEK: | |
Play of the Week will return when the exam period is concluded. |
MECHANICS: | |
Play of the Week will return when the exam period is concluded. |
Date | Event | Contact for details |
BAFRA Directors | |||||
President | David Parsons | General Secretary | Richard Moger | ||
Finance | Mark Schofield | Operations | Oliver Maskell | ||
Recruitment | Emma Harris | Training | James Ford-Bannister | ||
Director without Portfolio #1 | Peter Parsons | Director without Portfolio #2 | Steve Tonkinson | ||
The opinions expressed in this Newsflash are those of the contributors, and not necessarily of BAFRA or its Directors. All Incident Reports to be submitted via www.bafra.info. Deadline for articles submitted by email ([email protected]) is midnight Tuesday. |
