Super Rugby referee Ben O'Keeffe pleased to be involved in club rugby

Super Rugby and soon to be international referee Ben O'Keeffe is back in Wellington this weekend on a break from his fulltime role and is looking forward to refereeing Saturday’ blockbuster Swindale Shield match between leaders Old Boy-University and Oriental-Rongotai at Nairnville Park.

O'Keeffe, who was Wellington’s Referee of the Year two years ago after officiating the 2014 Jubilee Cup final between Hutt Old Boy Marist and Wainuiomata, is pleased to be back involved in the local competition for the first time this year.

“This weekend my Super Rugby schedule meant that I had a weekend off so any weekend off I am always trying to stay involved in rugby,” he explained. “I love coming back to Wellington and refereeing in a competition that I refereed in for a few years.”

Is his approach to refereeing any different coming back to the club level?

“Like any game that we referee, we do so to the best of our abilities and its fifteen players versus fifteen players and the same game no matter whether we’re are at Tokyo or Nairnville Park.

“As a referee what we want to do is try and create an environment where those players who are playing can showcase their skills and talent for themselves and the spectators.

“I get more nervous doing a club game, especially in Wellington, as this is a club competition that I love and I feel like I owe it a lot because I wouldn’t be refereeing and going to some of the places and doing some of the big games that I do if it wasn’t for the experiences that I gained through club rugby games I did here, and players and coaches that I interacted with.”

O'Keeffe has been refereeing at NPC and age grade level for four years and he made his Super Rugby debut at the start of last year. “My debut Super Rugby match was between the Highlanders and the Crusaders in Dunedin and I was an injury replacement and came in with five hours’ notice!”

For the past three years he’s been juggling his refereeing with his job as a doctor (eye specialist) at Wellington Hospital, but has moved into a fulltime role this year.

He has been involved in a Super Rugby game most weekends since the start of the season, and has been involved in matches in Tokyo, South Africa and Australia.

What advice does he have for younger referees coming through?

“Enjoyment is the number one thing that has to keep you involved in rugby. In New Zealand it’s a passion for us and the opportunities that I am seeing at the moment is not just the games I do and places that I go but the people that I meet and experiences that I have.

“It is something that anyone can do. Whether you’re an ex-player or coach or just someone that loves rugby, picking up a whistle and refereeing is something that can be learnt and keeps you involved in the game.”

O'Keeffe is set to make his international refereeing debut in June. He has been appointed to referee Samoa’s home Test against Georgia on 11 June and the next weekend referees the Japan-Scotland Test match in Tokyo.

Saturday’s Premier contest between OBU and Ories will be his 25th Premier match in the Wellington competition since his debut in 2012.

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Swindale Shield matches this Saturday at a glance (all kick-offs at 2.45pm)

• Johnsonville v Northern United at Helston Park. Referee: Nick Hogan
• Wainuiomata v Marist St Pat's at William Jones Park. Referee: Vincent Ringrose
• Tawa v Hutt Old Boys Marist at Lyndhurst Park. Referee: Mike Pinfold
• Petone v Avalon at the Petone. Referee: Daniel Mangin
• Old Boys University v Oriental-Rongotai at Nairnville Park. Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
• Paremata-Plimmerton v Poneke at Ngatitoa Domain. Referee: David Walsh
• Wellington v Upper Hutt Rams at Hataitai Park. Referee: Scott Kennedy