Hicks in match officials squad

RUGBY:

OLDHAM official Robert Hicks has become one of the game's leading referees after taking up a place in the RFL's match officials squad.

The 29-year-old will now split his time between the group of officials, who are based out of Leeds Metropolitan University’s Headingley campus, and the RFL legal department, enabling him to carry on practising as a solicitor.

Hicks, who refereed both the Northern Rail Cup final and the Co-operative Championship grand final in 2010, is joined in the grouping by 20-year-old student Warren Turley and 21-year-old recent graduate Tim Roby.

The RFL's match officials director Stuart Cummings said: “It’s good to introduce some new personal into the squad ahead of the new season."