Assistant referee makes ITM final

Although the Taniwha didn't make last night's ITM Cup Championship final, which was played between Manawatu and Hawke's Bay, one Northlander was running the sidelines as an assistant referee.

Rugby referee education officer Kyal Collins was selected to be part of the match after producing several consistent performances throughout the ITM Cup season as an assistant - mainly running the sidelines at Toll Stadium.

Earlier this year, Collins had set the goal of making the semifinals, a responsibility bestowed on referees who are not part of ITM Cup's high-performance group.

Collins said his selection came as part of the referee review process, which takes place after each game and sees those with the whistle and flags critiqued.

While the chirpy whistle-blower - who is also the Northland sevens team manager - was stoked to have taken to the field last night, he hoped to upskill more local referees, so maybe one day there would be two Northlanders running the sidelines in the semifinals or finals.

"It's taken a long time [make a final as a referee], you don't just pick it up straightaway," he said. "This is my eighth or ninth season [at ITM Cup level] and it starts to click, you make the right calls at the right times.

"Making the final clearly shows you don't need to be in a high-performance squad, there are opportunities out there for someone who does the right thing."

Collins added, as an assistant referee, he was briefed by the head referee on game days, but was never given specific instruction as to what to look for - except for areas of improvement set down by NZRU, such as scrum and lineout positioning of referees.

Northlanders interested in getting into refereeing should call or txt 021NEWREF (021639733) or call into the Northland Rugby Union office where Kyal Collins is based.