Refereeing in Tahiti

Rugby refereeing: the best seat in the house

You know, rugby refereeing gets a bit of a bad rap at times. We’ve all read the horror stories about the very rare occasions when refs get assaulted at games, and after most big games at least one side’s coach is keen to take some pot shots in the media at the man in the middle. And the first reaction of most people when you tell them that you referee rugby as a hobby is “Don’t you get sick of all the abuse from the players, coaches and spectators?”

Well, I think it’s time to highlight some of the positive things about refereeing. As I sit here on the deck of my room at Tahiti’s wonderful Raddison Resort, with the sun out and the mercury pushing past 30 degrees, listening to the ocean crash onto the beach, it’s hard to be anything but positive.

Photo 1: The view as I type

In a couple of hours, I’ll be joining two other Wellington refs, one from Taranaki, one from Tonga and one from Fiji, along with a host of local Tahitian refs, to take part in the Federation of Oceania Rugby Union (FORU) Sevens tournament in Papeete. The tournament is a qualifier for the IRB Sevens circuit and the Commonwealth Games, so the Pacific nations taking part have plenty to play for. Today is the finals day after two days of pool games, so the rugby will be fast, furious and intense. The invitational teams from NZ, Australia, Fiji and the US will also be showcasing the game of Sevens for the crowd and trying to generate some profile for the game of rugby in this part of the world, so there will be excitement aplenty.

I’ve had to pinch myself frequently over the past few days just to check that I’m really here amongst it all. I was very fortunate to have been selected to officiate by the Wellington Rugby Referees Association (WRRA), to whom I’m extremely grateful, particularly since they paid for the flights. Our generous host, the Tahitian Rugby Union, has paid for our accommodation and meals. And all I have to do is slap on some sunblock, grab my whistle and referee some fantastic footy. Not a bad gig eh?

Photo 2: Six of the best: the reffing team

And just in case you’re wondering, this isn’t some exclusive high performance reward for the elite ranks of the reffing fraternity.  I’m just a humble club rugby ref who’s spent a few years sploshing around the paddocks of Wellington in rain, shine, sleet and raging Southerlies. But despite my limited ability, there have been some brilliant experiences.

In addition to Tahiti, I’ve travelled to New South Wales and reffed next to the famous Bathurst racing circuit and been on exchanges to Blenheim, Auckland, the Waikato and even Levin! Each trip has been full of memorable games and post-game festivities, and the warmth and generosity of the reffing community is outstanding. The WRRA also has exchanges with Japan, Hong Kong, the Gold Coast and various other domestic locations, so there are opportunities to officiate in different regions, with different teams and plenty of different post-match beers.

I’ve had the chance to help out on the sideline at the Wellington Sevens tournament/party and Super 14 games, and to see some of the great players of the game up close and personal (I got an earful of helpful “advice” from Wasale Serevi, the Fijian Sevens legend yesterday!)

I’ve hosted foreign refs and chatted to and picked up tips from some of the luminaries of the reffing scene such as Paddy O’Brien, Colin Hawke and Jonathan Kaplan. I’ve made some great mates and kept involved in the game that I love. The skills I’ve developed in terms of making decisions under pressure and people management have been very useful for my career and life in general. And I’ve found that people at parties are much more interested in talking to me as a ref than as an economist, unsurprisingly!

Photo 3: The friendly locals

I don’t think many people appreciate how much support refs get today. The WRRA has an excellent coaching and training structure in place that starts with helping new refs understand their role and providing guidance on how to deal with grumpy coaches and stroppy players. All the reffing gear is provided for next to no cost, and there are subsidies for boots and running shoes. A personal trainer helps us to lift our fitness levels through twice-weekly sessions, again at zero cost. Weekly meetings are held at which the region’s top referees present tips and tricks for managing scrums, lineouts, rucks, foul play and various other parts of the game.

Each referee is assigned a coach who comes to watch their games a few times a year and provides a written report to help the ref develop his or her (yes, we have a few female refs who do a great job) technical, tactical and game management skills. Over time, those who show promise and the desire to ref at higher levels are provided with a pathway to succeed and Wellington has produced a good number of test, Super 14 and provincial level referees such as Lyndon Bray, Chris Pollock, Garrett Williamson and most recently Mike Fraser. These guys stay involved with club rugby and their experience and shared insights are invaluable and inspirational for helping younger refs (and not so young refs like me) develop their skills.

Well I need to get my gear packed before heading off to the finals, and have a quick dip in the warm, clear tropical sea to freshen up and prepare myself mentally, so I’d better sign off.

But before I do, I would like to issue a plea for anyone who has played rugby in the past, or who has wondered what it’s like to be a ref, to get in co

ntact with their local refs’ association before the new season starts in March-April: just ring 0800 REFEREE or go online to www.wrra.org.nz . Or you can email our REO David Walsh by clicking this email address link here with any questions. We are always looking for new recruits and welcome them with open arms, lots of friendly faces, a beer at the bar, a bag of gear and a fresh lawbook.

For fun, fitness, camaraderie, opportunities for new experiences and personal development, refereeing is hard to beat. It really is the best seat in the house, and who knows, you too could end up in Tahiti or Levin! At the very least, it’ll get you out of Saturday afternoon shopping, which can only be a good thing!!

Cheers

John Ballingall

Wellington Referee

Photo 4: On the move