Southborough man's love of rugby endures
By Lori Berkey Contributing Writer

For many years, Southborough resident Don Morrison has been involved with the New England Rugby Referees Society. He cofounded the group in 1967, which was then called the Boston Referees Society.

Southborough - Southborough resident Don Morrison was a graduate student at MIT in 1966 when he ambled over to the school track to do laps. He was hoping to at least get a little exercise after ruining his knee in judo. The mid-field was taken up by a bunch of guys assembled for a scrum. The MIT rugby team was practicing their moves. Afterward, several from the rough and tumble crew came up to Morrison and invited him to join the team. Knowing his knee wouldn't hold up for play, he declined. But they insisted, telling him he could referee. He relented.

"I didn't know a scrum from a line-out," Morrison said, adding that when he agreed to ref he knew virtually nothing about the game.

He bought a rugby law book to prepare for his duties.

By spring of 1967, Morrison started officiating. However, he felt he didn't know enough about the game. He asked the two other refs, from the Boston Rugby Club, to share their wisdom. They agreed to meet with him the next week. The three of them made weekly meetings a habit, and soon they dubbed themselves the Boston Referees Society.

Word spread, and referees from other areas started attending the meetings. In 1971, to better reflect their membership, the group changed their name to the New England Rugby Referees Society. Today, their society is tax-exempt, boasts over 100 members and is one of nearly 40 such groups in the country, according to Morrison.

Several years ago, when the society's president lost a relative to cancer, he decided to start a society collection for cancer research. Members started donating their travel expense monies and game fees toward the cause, and charitable giving became one of the society's hallmarks.

Morrison, himself, has incurable cancer, and since cancer has touched their society, the society decided to set up a fund to fight cancer, he said. The society's 2007 charitable giving is earmarked for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation.

The society also fosters the advancement and enjoyment of the sport of rugby by off ering volunteer match officials to clubs affiliated with the New England Rugby Football Union and USA Rugby. The society recruits and provides training for referees, assisting them to reach their greatest potential through world class assessment and coaching, as well as by supporting exchanges and other networking activities.

Over the years, Morrison has held every office of the organization. He remains a member currently and is involved as an International Rugby Board (IRB) match official performance reviewer, an IRB and USA Rugby referee trainer and as a referee evaluator for USA Rugby, Northeast Territory and New England Union. He is also a USA Rugby referee selection committee member.

Although Morrison has never played the game himself, he loves the sport.

"It's in my blood," he said.

He's witnessed fierce rivalry on the field as well as good sportsmanship. He likes the aftermath of competitions too.

"When the game is over, you're all friends again," he added.

Morrsion has officiated many games in his day. He became so proficient at refereeing that he's traveled the world over, including to England and New Zealand, to oversee games.

Morrison said that anyone affiliated with rugby is part of an international fellowship. People traveling to different countries are frequently welcomed into the homes of other rugby enthusiasts that they've never met. Friendships spring from their common love of the sport, he said.

For more details about the society, visit www.nerugbyrefs. org, or email Morrison at Don- Morrison@charter.net.