Coaches have no control over referees, insists NZRU

1.00pm

The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) are adamant NPC coaches have no say in refereeing appointments despite Waikato coach John Mitchell asking for Steve Walsh to be banned from controlling his team's matches.

NZRU deputy chief executive Steve Tew confirmed that former All Blacks coach Mitchell wrote to NZRU referees boss Keith Lawrence last month asking that Walsh no longer control their games.

The letter was sent after Waikato's loss to Wellington on September 3, Tew confirmed, but added it was rejected.

"As part of the feedback, that conversation was held but we don't curry those sorts of things. If we did, with the track record of some provinces we wouldn't have referees to control their games," Tew told the Dominion Post.

Walsh wasn't in control of Waikato's 16-28 semifinal loss to Wellington on Friday, which was refereed by No 1 whistler Paddy O'Brien.

Walsh refereed Saturday's other semifinal when Canterbury beat Bay of Plenty in Christchurch.

Tew defended the standard of refereeing and said New Zealand's referees were among the best in the world.

"We are extremely well off and our referees do a very good job that is underestimated by the rugby community."

New Zealand have four referees on the international panel -- O'Brien, Walsh, Waikato's Paul Honiss and Hawke's Bay's Kelvin Deaker.

- NZPA

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