Paddy O'Brien to retire

Leading rugby referee Paddy O'Brien is hanging up his whistle.

O'Brien is set to confirm today that he will retire from top grade rugby at the end of the Lions tour.

It's expected he will be appointed to referee some of the top provincial games in the tour.

So, the tsunami charity rugby game appears to have been O'Brien's last international game.

O'Brien will continue in the Super 12, before taking over in the role of high performance referees' coach with the NZRU.

- NEWSTALK ZB