Referee blows whistle on career

wta280614abbaden03.jpg Wairarapa Bush rugby referee Baden Whale, 77, is given a line of honour by the under-15 teams Wairarapa College Blue and Rathkeale College, at Wairarapa College. (Wairarapa Coll

It was appropriate that Baden Whale's last official rugby refereeing appointment should come on the back field at Wairarapa College.
The sprightly 77-year-old called it a day after the Wairarapa College Blue v Rathkeale under-15 match on Saturday, bringing to an end a 54-year refereeing career, which started on that very same back field in 1961.
"I remember Wairarapa College was one of the teams back then but I am not sure who they were playing ... it's a long time ago," Whale said.
"It's been a lot of fun and enjoyment, that's for sure."
Whale said his decision to retire from "official" refereeing came through a mix of family circumstances and the fact an influx of new referees and a decrease in the number of secondary school morning games meant his services were not required to the extent they once were.
"It's not the body which is giving up ... it just seemed like a good time to pull the plug," he said.