Wynne Gray: Forget the new chums, old boys should be on the field

Fitzy was lost to the job when his dodgy knee stoppedco-operating.

He also fancied work on the other side of the world at the pre- and apres-match festivities rather than blowing the whistle on men at Twickenham or elsewhere.

Mehrts has not made the switch either, even though he was a backline version of his former captain, dispensing advice to the man with the whistle like Michael Laws on the radio.

Zinny would have been handy, but games might have stretched to four hours with him in charge because he'd want to debate every point of law.

Glen Jackson, the handyfive-eighths who played for Bay of Plenty, the Chiefs and is now at Saracens, is threatening to begin work as a referee in next season's Heartland championship if his plans fall into place.

He passed his reffing exams some time ago and for the past seven years has been quietly controlling a variety of matches.

If all goes well he will be back in New Zealand next year to start work.

New Zealand's last player/referee of any note was All Black centre Frank McMullen, who was in charge of the 1973 test against England.

The All Blacks lost 16-10, and McMullen did not referee another test. Maybe that put off other contenders contemplating a switch from playing to dishing out the rulings.

Jackson may be about to redress that void.

On the world stage, former Irish halfback Alain Rolland has risen quickly through the ranks to take charge of internationals.

But the former player, multi-linguist, 2007 Rugby World Cup final whistler and mortgage broker in Dublin is on his Pat Malone.

What does it say about the game or the financial incentives?

Is it too hard to play and then referee? Are the rules too complicated? Are most players too exhausted to blow a whistle once they wind down their playing careers?

Or are they just plain unwilling to continue in the spotlight?

Global referees boss Paddy O'Brien has often spoken about the struggle to recruit officials and maybe the IRB needs to adopt some novel schemes before their resources dwindle even more alarmingly.

Get a group of foes together, several from each nation, tip them some serious wedge and form them into a travelling troupe of officials.

Stir their competitive juices, convince them the job was just an extended international tour.

They could still be playing, thinking about playing abroad or giving the game away because of injury.

Think men from New Zealand such as Jonah Lomu, Corey Flynn, Leon MacDonald, Carlos Spencer, Doug Howlett, Aaron Mauger, Ross Filipo, James Ryan, Reuben Thorne, Byron Kelleher.

Make them an offer, see what happens.