Why does a rugby referees whistle sound different to a football referees?
There doesn't seem to be much difference in crowd noise and i thought that was a factor
According to http://therugbyref.blogspot.co.uk/2010/07/whistle-while-you-work.html :
Football referees use plastic whistles. They are shrill and high pitched, they are a bit.... "look at me!" Perfect in fact for the prima donna world of footballers. The Acme Thunderer on the other hand is metal, it's solid, dependable and practical. It has a deep commanding tone, it's a man's whistle.
I still have an Acme Thunderer that was bought for me when I started teaching in 1973. It's now a sort of talisman to me bu I don't use it so much these days.