Rugby ref keen to get back into action despite assault

Mark Ray is desperate to pick up his whistle again, likely in a few weeks.

A young referee king-hit by a rugby player — who has been banned from the sport for life — says he is counting the days until he can return to the sport he describes as his life.

Mark Ray was concussed after Otorohanga prop Whetu Barber punched him during a game against Morrinsville on Good Friday. Ray had yellow-carded Barber for elbowing an opponent, before red-carding him for back chat.

Witnesses said Barber started walking away but without warning punched Ray on the side on the head.

Ray, 24, didn't want to comment on the Waikato Rugby Union's decision this week to ban Barber from rugby for life, but said the player had broken a sacred rule. "You can't touch a ref, if they make good calls, or bad calls, you can't. It's taboo."

Ray is also off the field after suffering delayed concussion, and is desperate to pick up his whistle again, likely in a few weeks.

"I love rugby, I live rugby. I'm never going to back down. I've got a few dreams I'd like to achieve."

A former back, he switched to refereeing five years ago to give back to the sport he'd loved since taking the field at the age of 4. He hoped others were not put off.

"What happened to me is a one percenter ... We have a shortage of refs in New Zealand. We're desperate for anyone that's retired or injured. We just need people to give it a go, to pay it forward.

"Without refs there wouldn't be any game ... "