‘Fair go’ for referees

Press, 6 May 1981, Page 46

‘Fair go’ for referees

‘ By JOHN BROOKS Rugby refereeing standards in Australia and New Zealand would fall unless the ‘men in white 1 from the.two countries were given their fair share of international appointments. This was said in Christchurch yesterday by Queensland’s No. 1 referee, Mr Colin Waldron, who, with a', colleague from Brisbane, Mr Greg Howard, is in Canterbury under an exchange scheme. Independent referees for test rugby had come to stay, Mr Waldron said, and this was a means of reducing arguments or conflicts in a test series, but the practice had to be extended beyond the four Home Unions and France to the Southern Hemisphere. ‘lt’s a good thing, but only if referees in New Zealand and Australia get a fair go,* he said firmly. ‘The national

unions must support their own referees in this regard.' Mr Waldron discounted the expense involved as constituting a stumbling block. ‘The cost of sending a referee overseas could come out of the gate proceeds; but it is'a very inefficient union that cannot obtain sponsorship. 1 * Support was mounting for the formation of an international panel of referees, with about three names 1 being forwarded by each country. Appointments would be made well in advance, so . that refereeing out of season would not be a problem. But it was essential that antipodean referees were not left . out in the cold. ‘lf that happens the concept of neutral refereeing will fall down, and referees here will get annoyed, 1 said Mr Waldron.. . However, some hopeful signs are emerging. A New

Zealand referee, as yet unnamed, will control one of the two internationals between Australia and France this season, and the claims of referees from New Zealand and Australia for major overseas appointments are firmly supported by Mr Johnny Johnson, an influential figures in British refereeing’ circles. He controlled the All Blacks’ match against Wales in 1972. British authorities were pleasantly surprised at the quality of Mr Waldron’s refereeing when he had charge of 14 games ' at senior club level while oh an exchange trip to the United Kingdom last year..' It was through the exposure which such visits afforded referees that reputations were made and experience gained, the Queenslander said.