NBL1 South Elite Officiating Pathway Strengthened

NBL1 South is pleased to announce key officiating leadership appointments for the upcoming 2026 season, with Ruben Woolcock returning and Josh Durand appointed as Elite Technical Officials Development Officers.

An established National Basketball League referee, Woolcock returns to NBL1 South with extensive elite and international experience. His recent appointments include serving as Crew Chief for the Bronze Medal game at the FIBA U17 Women’s World Cup, followed by a return Bronze Medal game assignment at the Basketball Champions League (BCL) Youth Tournament in Turkey earlier this year. He is also set to officiate at the upcoming Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in China next month & U19 Women’s World Cup in Czechia this July.

Woolcock’s impact and leadership were recognised in 2025 when he was named Basketball Victoria Technical Official of the Year. He has also had his FIBA Licence renewed for the 2025–2027 cycle, reinforcing his ongoing presence at the international level.

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The appointments form part of a restructured Technical Officials support model for NBL1 South in 2026, with leadership responsibilities split across two part-time roles to better reflect the performance and development needs of officials operating at the elite level. Woolcock will lead the program, overseeing standards and progression across the officiating cohort.

“I’m excited to be back and I'm looking forward to contributing to the growth of the league through the skills and professionalism of its officials,” Woolcock said. “I think we have another competitive and high-quality season coming that we will prepare for with a series of play calling analyses, in-person and virtual workshops. The preseason objective is to have the panel on the same page, equipped with the techniques and practices necessary to facilitate a fair contest while allowing the athletes to perform at a high level.”

Durand, also an NBL referee, brings strong pathway and development credentials to the role. He was the NBL1 South 2025 Golden Whistle Award winner, recognising his outstanding performance across the season, and has recently been awarded his first FIBA Licence for the 2025–2027 cycle, joining Woolcock as a FIBA-recognised official. Having progressed through the Nunawading program and the Basketball Victoria officiating pathway, Durand will focus on supporting emerging and less experienced NBL1 South referees, assisting their transition from Big V, while also contributing to the development of the league’s established officials.

“I’m looking forward to a fantastic NBL1 South season working with all of our developed and developing officials to create the best product in the country,” Durand said.

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Together, Woolcock and Durand form a highly respected and complementary leadership pairing, well regarded by peers, coaches and players, and deeply connected within the officiating pathway. Their appointments reinforce Basketball Victoria's commitment to officiating excellence, elite performance standards, and the continued development of officials across all stages of the pathway.

The NBL1 South 2026 season tips off on Friday 27th March 2026. For all the latest updates, including player signings, coaching appointments and league news, make sure you’re following NBL1 South on Facebook and Instagram.