A SENIOR international and Premiership rugby union referee from the Isle of Wight, Adam Leal, will be making his Six Nations Championship 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 the impressive Stadio Olimpico in Rome on Saturday (March 9).

Adam will make his debut as a match official in the Six Nations — a massive achievement for him and a proud moment for Isle of Wight rugby. 

The 35-year-old says he is thoroughly looking forward to the opportunity and building towards his dream ticket of refereeing at a Rugby World Cup.

“It’s a huge honour to be involved in the Six Nations as a match official," said Adam, who attended the former Mayfield Middle School and Ryde High. 

"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.”

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 in a playing career that lasted 12 years, ending it at Isle of Wight RFC having suffered repeated shoulder dislocations that would ultimately require three operations. 

Adam, told by his surgeon he would not play competitive rugby again, was initially devastated by this news, but keen to stay involved in the game, he was handed an opportunity to referee at the Island's Beach Rugby Tournament in Ryde. 

Having really enjoyed the experience and, after undertaking the RFU's referee courses, began his journey as a referee. 

From refereeing local rugby, Adam progressed through the ranks at an impressive rate — refereeing regional rugby at the end of his first full season.

National rugby followed the next season and, from then on, it was the springboard that launched him into the professional ranks — rising from a hobby to become his life. 

Adam joined the PGMOT (Professional Game Match Officials Team) in 2017 and refereed his first top flight Premiership match.

He has gone on to referee more than 30 top flight matches in the Gallagher Premiership, including, most recently, the Harlequins v Gloucester match, at Twickenham, which attracted a 73,000 crowd. 

He also referees in the European Champions and Challenge Cup, as well as the World Sevens Series. 

Adam also has the international honour of refereeing test matches in Georgia and Romania, and prominently featured in the build-up to the Rugby World Cup as assistant referee to the likes of World Cup Final ref, Wayne Barnes.

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