31/08/2026
Continuing with our new daily series: Behind the Whistle!
Each day, we’ll shine a spotlight on a referee or touch judge who has helped shape, serve and contribute to the great game of rugby league.
Today we centre our attention on Sean Villa, a proud referee, touch judge and in-goal judge from the Illawarra district. Sean gained his Schoolboy ticket in 1981 whilst a student at Woodlawn College at Lismore. He moved back to his birthplace, Illawarra, in 1985 and gained his Senior Referee's Certificate.
He successfully stood for the position of Assistant Secretary in 1994 but soon found himself promoted to Secretary upon the resignation of Mark Crampton from that position. He remained in the role for two years before standing down to focus on his Sydney Grade career.
Sean refereed the local Third Grade Grand Final in 1991 and was a First Grade Grand Final Touch Judge in 1990 and 1993. He was also appointed as a touch judge in the Jersey Flegg Grand Final of 1993 and the Harold Matthews Cup of 1993 and 1994.
Upon returning to the Illawarra League in 2001 he was appointed by the CRL as a Touch Judge in the Annual City versus Country fixture, this being the fourth such appointment to an Illawarra member in as many years as Steve Brown had been appointed in each of the previous three years. Sean did not return to the Association after the 2002 season but after an absence of thirteen years he rejoined and for the following three years was an integral member of the Match Day Assessment Team as well as the CRL Advisory Panel.
In 2019 he focuses all of his attention on the NRL Pathways Programme including coaching and assessment of NSWRLRA Graded members.
Who will be featured tomorrow? Stay tuned!
