A TEENAGER had a day to remember by refereeing the EDF Energy School's Under-14's Plate Final at Gloucester Rugby Club's Kingsholm Stadium.

James Hurds passed his Level 2 rugby referees course in October 2015 as part of his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award at Whitecross High School.

The 15-year-old is a member of the Gloucester Referee Academy, which gave him the opportunity to officiate the match between Pates Grammar and Deans Academy.

James – whose cousin, Josh McNally, is a player at London Irish – is also a volunteer coach at Hereford RFC and helps coach the club's under-7s.

He has been playing rugby at Wyeside since he was five, but chose to concentrate on coaching and refereeing two seasons ago.

James' parents, John and Jill, are also heavily involved at Hereford, with John being the manager of the Development Squad.