A SENIOR international and Premiership rugby union referee from the Isle of Wight, Adam Leal, will be making his Six Nations debut as an official in the forthcoming match between Italy and Scotland.

Island-born Adam, who hails from Ryde, will have the role of assistant referee in the match, held in one of Europe's most iconic stadiums, the Stadio Olimpico, in Rome, on Saturday, March 9.

Adam, who made his Premiership debut as a referee in the match between Worcester Warriors and Saracens in May 2019, first dipped his toe into the sport when he was aged 13 — and fell in love with the game straight away as a player.

He started his rugby journey at Ryde RUFC, but many in Island rugby circles will remember him playing for Isle of Wight RFC at Wootton Rec, until injury called a final whistle to his 12-year playing career. 

But Adam stayed in the game, refereeing local rugby and progressing into the professional game, with more than 30 Premiership games under his belt and a club match in front of 73,000 at Twickenham and test matches in Georgia and Romania.

Adam said: "It’s a huge honour to be involved in the Six Nations as a match official. 

"Growing up, it was a tournament I watched religiously as a fan, so to be able to be a part of these games now is amazing.”

The Italy v Scotland match will screened on ITV1 at 2.15pm on March 9.

ISLAND RUGBY THIS WEEKEND
Counties 2 Hampshire: Sandown & Shanklin v Locksheath Pumas.
Counties 3: Eastleigh II v Isle of Wight; Havant III v Ventnor.
Counties 4B: Sandown & Shanklin II v Locksheath Pumas II.
Counties 5 (South): Eastleigh III v Isle of Wight II.