Tauranga rugby referee Bell named in high performance squad

RESPECTED: Jamie Bell officiating Baywide Premier rugby this season. PHOTO/FILE

Tauranga rugby referee Jamie Bell has been selected to New Zealand Rugby's referee high performance wider training group squad for the 2017 season.

Bell, a third year Bachelor of Sport and Recreation student, is a former halfback for Arataki Premiers. He commenced his refereeing career in 2010 and by 2014 had quickly established himself in Bay of Plenty's Premier referee squad. In 2015, he was rewarded for all his hard work by being appointed to officiate the Baywide Premier Club final.

Referee manager Pat Rae says the wider training group is the first opportunity for Bell to be exposed to the referee high performance environment at New Zealand Rugby.

"He will receive intensive coaching and support through attending referee coaching camps, as well as be exposed to some high level rugby at next year's Jock Hobbs under-19 tournament in Taupo.

"Refereeing is a rewarding alternative pathway to playing rugby. You certainly don't cop the knocks bumps and bruises like the players do. Many of our higher performing referees come from playing. Glen Jackson is a prime example."

Rae has already fielded a call from an experienced Mount Maunganui premier club rugby player expressing his interest in refereeing next year.

"It is great to see the interest coming through and I'm looking forward to working with him and getting him up and running as a referee."

In other squad announcements released by NZ Rugby high performance referee manager Rod Hill, Bay of Plenty's Nick Briant and Glen Jackson return to the professional squad, while Shane McDermott returns to the national squad and the television match official squad.