Successful year for local referees

Above: Current WRRA referee Richard Gordon (right) and former local and now Hong Kong based Tim Baker at last weekend’s World Rugby Dubai 7s.?

Like many of the province’s players, Wellington’s leading referees have remained in action after the end of the club season, both locally and across the globe, and achieving recognition for their efforts.

Mike Fraser controlled the Taranaki - Auckland ITM Cup semi-final that went to extra time before completing assistant referee appointments in the recent series of northern hemisphere internationals, while the ITM Championship final was the swansong of Garrett Williamson’s career. Ben O’Keeffe’s fine year, which included the Junior World Cup final between South Africa and England, saw him elevated to NZ Rugby’s professional panel for 2015, alongside Fraser; and Vincent Ringrose made his first-class debut in the Heartland Championship. Ringrose, Richard Gordon, and Nick Hogan have all also been named in NZ Rugby squads for 2015.

Sevens has been the local focus of late. Ringrose and Hogan were involved in the Central Regional 7’s last weekend at Massey University, with Hogan controlling the final between Taranaki and Manawatu. Ringrose has been appointed to referee at the National tournament in Rotorua next month.

Also last weekend was the Dubai 7’s where Wellington had representation as well. Club Rugby caught up with one of the referees involved – Richard Gordon – about the tournament and his experience:

What rugby were you officiating in at Dubai?

Each year, at the same time and venue as the World Rugby Dubai 7s, there are around 15 other Invitational Tournaments ranging from local Vets and Social, to International Men’s Invitational, and International Men’s Open tournaments. Anyone and everyone from local 50-year old expats, to players on the cusp of their National 7s team are playing. The UAE Referees Association kindly invites a number of national RFUs, and some local RFUs (like Wellington) to send referees and coaches. This year I was lucky enough to be chosen by the WRRA to go.

Is this part of the WRRA’s interchange programme?

Yes, this is one of the main perks that being a referee can lead to. Dubai is one of the interchanges that we go on, and is available to all kinds of referees – elite, development, and “soldier” referees. Other current interchanges include Japan, Australia, and everywhere around NZ. I never would have had the chance to experience Dubai (and Tahiti and Japan in the past) if it wasn’t for the WRRA, so I’d just like to take this opportunity to thank Ian Dallas and the WRRA for the chance to go.?

What was the experience like?

Over 4000 players, 700 games, teams from all over the world, 100 referees, seven rugby fields, and all at the same venue at the same time. “The Sevens”, as it’s called, was just amazing. The whole venue is built solely for this purpose – #1 is almost 100% temporary scaffolding, yet seats 50,000. Grounds #2 and 3 have a specific picnic theme going – surrounded by an embankment. All seven grounds are floodlit, and games run from 8.00 am in the morning until 9.30 pm at night. There’s even an outdoor public swimming pool in the middle of the complex. It was something completely new for me, but it was amazing. With 30+ degrees heat, I’ve never appreciated ice baths so much before!

Who were the other local referees over there with you?

The WRRA (thanks to Ben O’Keeffe’s and Vincent Ringrose’s efforts in 2013) were invited to send two referees and a coach. Scott Kennedy had a very successful tournament, being allocated as a team leader on all three days, and taking on important mentoring/coaching roles for younger referees. I believe he was involved in at least three of the Invitational games in the main Stadium during the International 7s. Gary Jackson was invited over as one of the six selectors, deciding who got to do what games. From Auckland RRA, Adam Palmer and Steve Salton went. Tim Baker (ex WRRA) was also over representing Hong Kong. Richard Kelly and Nick Briant were flying the NZ Rugby flag at the International 7s.?

What were the games that you refereed? ?You did one of the finals?

Each day we were divided into teams of three and each team did a number of ‘blocks’. Each block consisted of three games – so you would referee one, and AR two. Day one was a mix of games, International Social, International Men’s Open etc. On Day two, referees were selected into groups, which were then divided into teams of three again. I was lucky enough to just make the cut for the top group (12 referees), and we did the top two Invitational Tournaments – Men’s Invitational and Men’s Open. Day three again saw referees selected into groups, and I had one of the four Men’s Invitational quarter-finals, and later in the day had the huge honour of refereeing the Men’s Open final. The standard of rugby was amazing at the top – I was lucky enough to referee teams such as Belgium, South Africa B, Russia, Poland, Georgia. In total I refereed 10 games and AR-ed 15 over the three days, including a couple in the main Stadium. When we weren’t refereeing, we were either in ice-baths, staying cool in our chill-out tent, getting much-needed rub downs, or just enjoying the atmosphere of the 7s.

What are your plans over the summer?

Well I’ll probably take a much needed week or two off, but then straight back into it. The WRRA kindly put on free pre-season fitness training from October to March at Anderson Park on Mondays and Thursdays (open to anyone interested – caters to all levels of fitness). There is nothing on the radar until 15s start in March, but with refereeing, who knows!

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Anyone interested in refereeing should pester David Walsh on 0800 REFEREE, or visit their website www.wrra.org.nz