{{Short description|English rugby league referee (born 1960)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}} {{Use British English|date=March 2016}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Stuart Cummings |fullname = |nickname = |image = |image_size = |caption = |country = |position = |birth_date = 17 November 1960 |birth_place = Whitehaven |death_date = |death_place= |height = |weight = |refereecomp1 = World Cup |refereeyear1start = 1995 |refereeyear1end = 2000 |refereeappearances1 = 7 |refereecomp2 = Other Internationals |refereeyear2start = 1996 |refereeyear2end = 1999 |refereeappearances2 = 3 |refereecomp3 = Championship/Super League |refereeyear3start = 1991 |refereeyear3end = 2002 |refereeappearances3 = |refereecomp4 = Challenge Cup |refereeyear4start = 1991 |refereeyear4end = 2002 |refereeappearances4 = |refereecomp5 = |refereeyear5start = |refereeyear5end = |refereeappearances5 = |updated = |source = <ref>[http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/referees/stuart-cummings.html Stuart Cummings] ''rugbyleagueproject.org''</ref> |new = yes }} {{Infobox cricketer | image = | country = England | role = Wicketkeeper | batting = Right-handed | bowling = | club1 = Cheshire | year1 = 1987–1987 | columns = 1 | column1 = List A | matches1 = 2 | runs1 = 1 | bat avg1 = 1.00 | 100s/50s1 = 0/0 | top score1 = 1* | hidedeliveries = true | catches/stumpings1 = 0/– | date = 30 April | year = 2025 | source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/11550.html Cricinfo }} '''Stuart Cummings''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}} (born 17 November 1960) is the former Match Officials Director of the Rugby Football League, and a former international referee.
==Career== He played wicketkeeper for Cheshire County Cricket Club in the 1986 and 1987 seasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/mar/04/ecb-stuart-cummings-super-league-referee-umpiring|title = ECB hires rugby league's Stuart Cummings to work with umpiring panel|website = TheGuardian.com|date = 4 March 2014}}</ref>
He qualified as a rugby league referee in 1988 and was awarded senior referee status in 1991.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyleague/10547526/Former-rugby-league-referee-Stuart-Cummings-delighted-to-be-made-an-MBE-in-New-Year-Honours.html|title = Former rugby league referee Stuart Cummings delighted to be made an MBE in New Year Honours}}</ref> In his refereeing career, he took charge of over 400 first-grade games, including 4 Challenge Cup finals, 2 World Cup finals and 2 Grand Finals.
In 1998 he suffered bruised ribs at the end of a Challenge Cup semi-final during a crowd invasion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-fans-surprise-attack-breaks-rugby-league-taboo-1153315.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-fans-surprise-attack-breaks-rugby-league-taboo-1153315.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Rugby League: Fan's surprise attack breaks rugby league taboo|website=Independent.co.uk|date=29 March 1998}}</ref>
He was the former Rugby Football League Match Officials Director.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.therfl.co.uk/about/page.php?id=231&areaid=54|title=Match Officials|publisher=NRL Live|accessdate=2009-02-11}}</ref> In this position, he fielded questions from fans about refereeing decisions and explained the laws behind disputed or controversial decisions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.therfl.co.uk/about/page.php?id=231&areaid=54|title=Match Officials|publisher=NRL Live|accessdate=2009-02-11}}</ref> His job also included appointing senior officials to matches and reviewing their performances. During his tenure he oversaw the transition to full-time referees in the Super League.
He was also regularly featured on Rugby League live broadcasts to provide expert opinion.
Cummings was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2014 New Year Honours for services to Rugby League.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=60728|supp=y|page=17|date=31 December 2013}}</ref>
In 2014 he was hired by the England and Wales Cricket Board to work with its umpiring panel for the summer after stepping down from his position with the RFL<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Andy |title=ECB hires rugby league's Stuart Cummings to work with umpiring panel |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/mar/04/ecb-stuart-cummings-super-league-referee-umpiring |work=The Guardian |date=4 March 2014 |accessdate=13 January 2019}}</ref> and was appointed as a cricket liaison officer by the ECB in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |title=Five more Cricket Liaison Officers to support the First Class game |url=https://www.ecb.co.uk/news/334392 |website=England and Wales Cricket Board |publisher=England and Wales Cricket Board |accessdate=13 January 2019}}</ref>
In June 2016 he joined the RFL's new Match Officials' Standards Panel.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rugby-league.com/article/37833/rfl-launches-new-match-officials-standards-panel|title=RFL Launches new Match Officials' Standards Panel}}</ref>
==Personal life== Prior to being the Match Officials Director, Cummings was a physical education teacher at Up Holland High School,<ref>{{cite web |title=Karen's Delight at MBE |url=https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/more-sport/karen-s-delight-at-mbe-1-6357152 |website=Wigan Today |publisher=Wigan Observer and Wigan Post |accessdate=13 January 2019}}</ref> near Wigan; refereeing weekends until taking up his position with the Rugby Football League full-time in 2000.
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cummings, Stuart}} Category:1960 births Category:Sportspeople from Whitehaven Category:Living people Category:English rugby league referees Category:Rugby League World Cup referees Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire Category:Cheshire cricketers
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