Referee's History

On Saturday 19^th April 1895, the Southland Rugby Football Union at it's General Meeting, decided that the time was opportune for the formation of a Rugby Referees' Association.

So, on 2^nd May 1895, the Southland Rugby Referees' Association came into being, the grand old man of Southland Football, "Bob" Galbraith, being it's first President.

No fewer than 11 representative players joined the Association at it's inception, and with another 20 players and enthusiasts, a very strong body was got together.

This strong body has continued to this day, and currently has 120 plus members.

In 1998 a new structure and constitution was adopted, changing the previous Sub Union structure into a Southland wide organisation, which has achieved a more co-ordinated approach to refereeing in the Province.

The S.R.R.A. was affiliated to the New Zealand Rugby Referees' Association (N.Z.R.R.A.), and has had several members serve as President of the National Executive.

The N.Z.R.R.A. was disbanded in early 1999 with National co-ordination now being provided by the Referee Education Unit of the New Zealand Rugby Union.

As a result of the National restructuring, the Rugby Southland Referees' became a business unit of the Rugby Southland Provincial Union.

A number of referees over the years have established themselves at a National and International level.

Names that come to mind Nationally are: Murray Jarvis, Barry Dawson, Peter Tetai, Craig Morton, Paul Macfie, Keith Brown, Shane McDermott.

Referees who officiated in Test matches are: David Bishop, Paddy O'Brien.

A number of young, up and coming referees have been selected in recent years for South Island Zone Squads, South Island Under 16 and 18 Tournaments.

In recent years the number of active referees involved has grown from 65 in 2003 to 98 in 2007.

The number of referee coaches has increased from 12 in 2003 to 30 in 2007.

Every weekend, the Rugby Southland Referees' Group, officiate in games around the Province from Premier down to Under 10 - one of only two Provincial Unions in New Zealand who have sufficient active referee numbers to cover grades down to that level.