2026/27 NSW Country Umpire Representative Panel Announced
- Chris Beecher
- Jul 10
- 3 min read
The Country Umpire Representative Panel (CURP) has been announced, and we offer congratulations and best wishes to the following NSWCUSA members on their selection for season 2026-27:
James Figallo and Michael Meehan have been elevated to the CURP. James returns to the panel having previously served as a member from 2017-2019. He has also umpired 113 matches in NSW Men’s Premier Cricket, including 32 first grade and 38 T20 Cup fixtures. Michael, a respected first grade umpire in Sydney, has relocated to the country and will be officiating in the Coffs Harbour District Cricket Association in season 2026-27. He has been included on the CURP for the first time, the 61st umpire since the panel was formed in season 1991-92. Michael has umpired 172 NSW Men’s Premier Cricket matches, including 51 in first grade and 20 T20 Cup fixtures. James and Michael are excellent inclusions on the Country Panel, we look forward to their involvement in Country Cricket NSW representative programs in the coming season.
The CURP was selected by Independent Country Umpire Selectors, Bruce Baxter and Graham Chudleigh. Our thanks are offered to Bruce and Graham for their commitment to the umpires and the process. Their knowledge of cricket and umpiring is impeccable. They observed umpires at country cricket carnivals in recent seasons and possess an admirable understanding of the country umpiring pathway and those umpires involved.
Congratulations are offered to Neil Findlay on his reappointment as Country Umpire Coach for the 2026-27 season. Neil does an outstanding job working with our Country Panel umpires. He supports them through the process of preparing their season development plan, reviews and provides feedback on umpire self-assessments, provides detailed feedback to umpires through his match day observations, working with the umpires in a holistic coaching sense in their search for improvement. Neil has created a high performance culture among our country representative umpires. Neil is an asset to the NSWCUSA, to the umpires with whom he works and to Country Cricket NSW as a match referee in its representative programs. Neil’s dedication to his coaching role has seen an improvement in umpiring standards. We acknowledge Neil, thank him for his commitment and ongoing involvement.
Brenton Harrison and Murray Le Lievre stood down from the CURP at the end of season 2025-26, both umpires of high quality. Their commitment to the panel, to their colleagues and to cricket in their local district associations (Brenton – Griffith and Murray – Wagga Wagga) was first-class. Brenton served as a member of the CURP for six seasons and Murray for three. We acknowledge Brenton and Murray with appreciation, thank them for their service and wish them the very best in their future endeavours.
Jeff Egan and Kate Rowlands also depart the Country Panel. They have been selected on the NSW State Umpire Panel. Their representative focus in season 2026-27 will be on their umpiring commitments in Cricket Australia programs. We thank Jeff and Kate for their commitment to country representative cricket and wish them the very best. Residing in Temora, Jeff will continue to umpire in Cricket Wagga Wagga while Kate, based in Casino, will umpire in the Far North Coast Cricket Council LJ Hooker League when their Premier Cricket and Cricket Australia umpiring commitments allow.
Country Cricket NSW representative programs for season 2026-27 are close to being confirmed. Our Country Panel umpires will be involved throughout, we also look forward to them officiating in Men’s Premier Cricket first grade fixtures throughout the season as part of the NSWCUSA program to provide meaningful development experiences for our country resident umpires.
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