Deal rugby referee Matt Carley will take charge of national level matches for the first time next season.

The 25-year-old PE teacher, who lives in Cowdray Square, has been promoted by the Rugby Football Union to their panel of referees who will take charge of Championship and National 1 and 2 matches when the new season gets under way in September.

Carley started his refereeing career at 16 and six years ago he was selected for an RFU refereeing scholarship at the University of Gloucestershire, which ran alongside his sports science degree.

After graduating, he returned home to Deal, where he plays cricket for Deal Victorians, and joined the RFU’s South East Group of referees.