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No watch is required. World Rugby’s laws make the referee responsible for keeping match time and allow that job to be handed to an assistant referee or an official timekeeper. Neither the laws nor World Rugby’s officiating materials name a brand or model. The one model that comes up in referee discussions is the Casio AE-1300WH, and it appears there as an informal example, not as an endorsed or widely used choice.
What the laws require
Timekeeping is a referee duty under World Rugby’s laws, so the question of which watch to wear starts with what the law actually asks for.
Law 6: the referee keeps the time
Law 6 states plainly that “The referee keeps the time.” It also allows the match organiser to appoint a timekeeper whose job is to signal the end of each half. The law therefore places the responsibility on the referee, while letting an organiser move the physical signalling to someone else.
Law 5: the length of a match
Law 5 sets the ordinary match length. A match lasts no longer than 80 minutes, split into two halves of no more than 40 minutes each, plus time lost. The same law allows extra time only where the match organiser has authorised it for a drawn match in a knock-out competition. Time lost is added on top of the 40-minute halves, so the referee’s watch has to track playing time that is not fixed in advance.
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- Professional Football Soccer Game Coach Referee Timer: The watch can count time down for football game, soccer game and other balls game, the game time can be set from 1 to 99 minutes and it can record the additional time for injure and substitution when the game time is still going
- Professional 100 Lap Memory Stopwatch: Allow to record in both the lap and split time with the ability to store 100 memories for events. It can measure up to 10 hours in 1/1000 seconds and the measurement memories can be recalled with the fastest lap, slowest lap and average lap time, also can recall each split/lap time in the order
- Multifunction Football Official Watch: Professional Soccer Referee Watch with On/Off Switch, 100-Lap Silent Stopwatch, 3-Line Backlit Display, 12/24-Hour Clock, 2 Sets Alarm Clock, Countdown, Calendar, Water Resistant, Shock Resistant. Fashionable sporty dial and silicone watch band design, military style outlook
- Mute Function and ON/Off Switch: Optional to turn off the BEEP and alarm clock. Turning off the stopwatch to extend battery life is available for longer usage between battery replacements
Law 5 also says the referee keeps time but may delegate the task to assistant referees or an official timekeeper. Delegation is therefore a standard option, not a fallback for a referee who has lost track of time.
How timekeeping works in practice
World Rugby’s timing guidance describes a timekeeper who starts and stops the match clock and the shot clock in line with the referee’s instructions. It also covers when time is on and when it is off, and it refers to the timing system the timekeeper uses. Where a timekeeper is appointed, the watch in the referee’s hand is a personal reference, not the official clock.
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The signal material shows how the two roles connect. The instruction is labelled “Timekeeper to stop and start watch.” According to the accompanying description, the referee raises an arm and blows the whistle when the watch should be stopped or started. A referee working with a timekeeper therefore needs a watch that can be read quickly, not one that has to be set up mid-match.
Which watches do referees use?
The official law text and officiating materials describe the timekeeping job but do not name a watch, a brand, or a model that referees must or generally do use. Any claim that a particular watch is “the rugby referee watch” would go beyond what the official sources support.
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- Large Digital Display: Equipped with a large, clear screen, it clearly displays the time, date, and multiple functions, ensuring quick readability in any lighting conditions. This watch uses a long-life CR2032 battery, eliminating the need for frequent replacements.
- Professional Football Referee Watch: Our football watch features a countdown timer, set up to 45 minutes, counting down to 00:00. It has an on/off switch, a silent function, a stopwatch function, 12/24-hour time format, and multiple time channels: hour, minute, second, year, month, and day.
- Premium Materials: Includes a watch and a whistle, both made of high-quality ABS material, offering comfortable wear and shock resistance. The adjustable strap allows for easy adjustment to a comfortable position, eliminating concerns about discomfort.
- Multifunction: Easily set alarms with a simple and user-friendly interface for daily wake-up calls or reminders. A night light mode ensures clear visibility in low-light or no-light conditions, making it ideal for nighttime use or dark environments.
- Suitable Scenarios: This coaching timing kit is suitable for fitness instructors, school physical education teachers, and outdoor team activity organizers, providing timing and instruction transmission for team activities. In addition, our digital watch is also ideal for everyday use, offering a variety of functions.
What exists is informal. In an online referee discussion titled “Referees: what watch do you use during games?”, participants mention two kinds of device. The discussion is self-reported and does not show how common either option is, particularly among elite officials.
The Casio AE-1300WH
One participant points to the Casio AE-1300WH as a relatively inexpensive option for referee timing. It is a digital watch, and that is the reason it suits this job: the referee can read elapsed time at a glance and does not depend on a phone or an app. That is the thread’s example, and it should be read as one referee’s suggestion rather than an official recommendation or a sign of general use.
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- Multifunction Digital Watch: 12/24-Hour Clock, 2 Sets Alarm Clock, Auto Date, Water Resistant, Shock Resistant, 3-line Display. Fashionable sporty dial and silicone watch band design, military style outlook. Large Dial and numbers show time clear. Use the Luminous mode, press LIGHT button to see the time clearly with back-light in the night
- Professional Football Soccer Game Coach Referee Timer: The watch can count time down for football game, soccer game and other balls game, the game time can be set from 1 to 99 minutes and it can record the additional time for injure and substitution when the game time is still going
- Professional 100 Lap Memory Stopwatch: Allow to record in both the lap and split time with the ability to store 100 memories for events. It can measure up to 10 hours in 1/1000 seconds and the measurement memories can be recalled with the fastest lap, slowest lap and average lap time, also can recall each split/lap time in the order
- Countdown Timer and Pace Mode: Single timing and cycle timing in sports and daily life, and the pace value can be adjusted from 5,10,15 to 320 counts per minute, and it will send B sound the value times per minute. It can make your fitness, workout, exercise more accurate
- Mute Function and ON/Off: Optional feature to turn off the BEEP and alarm clock. Turning off the stopwatch to extend battery life is available
Smartwatches with a referee app
The same discussion mentions Apple Watch use with a referee app. This is a second anecdote. It shows that some officials use a smartwatch for timing, but it does not show whether a given app is accepted in a given competition.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Choosing a timing watch
Because no official model exists, the practical choice comes down to what your competition and union allow and what you can operate under pressure. Check these points before you buy:
Best Value
- Chronograph function: 1/100 second, measure up to 9 hours 59minutes and 59.99seconds.
- Time mode, Alarm mode, Chronograph mode, Countdown mode
- Programmed 45 minutes countdown setting
- 12/24 hour format, auto calendar. 10 recallable lap and split memories
- Made to measure time right down to one-hundredth of a second making it the ideal choice for any athlete, coach or sports fan, whose performance depends on accurate time measurement!
- Permitted devices. Confirm with your union or competition organiser whether a personal watch or a smartwatch running a timing app is allowed on the pitch. This is a local decision, and the laws do not settle it.
- Readability at a glance. A referee reading the time while running and watching play needs large, high-contrast digits.
- Start, stop and reset controls. Test the buttons while wearing gloves or with wet hands, and confirm you can start and stop the timer without looking away from play for long.
- Battery and runtime. Check the rated battery life against the longest match you officiate, including warm-ups and any extra time you may be asked to cover.
- Durability and water resistance. Rugby is played in rain and mud. Read the water-resistance rating in the manufacturer’s documentation rather than assuming it.
- Setup time. A watch that needs menus navigated before kick-off is a liability. Set up and practise with it before a match, not during one.
If you are considering the Casio AE-1300WH, check the current product listing for price, availability, and feature details, and confirm that its timer behaviour matches the procedure your competition uses. The informal discussion does not establish any of these details.
What is not established
No published survey or statistic on referee watch brands or adoption was found among the official and informal sources this article draws on, so there is no reliable figure for how many referees use a digital watch, a smartwatch, or a timekeeper instead. The only named model is an informal example from one discussion, and the law text does not mention watches at all. Readers looking for a definitive answer should ask their union or competition organiser which timing arrangements apply to their matches.
Quick Recap
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