KEY POINTS:
Professional referee Steve Walsh faces an uncertain future following an incident at the Sanzar conference for coaches and referees.
The Herald on Sunday has been told that Walsh, now New Zealand's longest serving referee, was accused of being drunk at a morning session of the conference early this month in Sydney.
It is believed other participants told Walsh to leave that particular session. He is understood to have returned later in the day, where he was told not to attend the following day's session which was for referees only.
The matter is now an employment issue between Walsh and the New Zealand Rugby Union who have a policy of not commenting on personnel disputes.
The incident is not the first time Walsh has been in trouble. At the 2003 World Cup he clashed verbally with English fitness trainer Dave Reddin. Walsh was the fourth official for the game between Samoa and England and told Reddin that he couldn't let replacement player Dan Luger on to the field. When Walsh was ignored, he ended up in a spat with the Englishman and they were suspended for one and two games respectively.
In 2005 the IRB punished Walsh after a complaint from the British Lions. In the game against Taranaki, Walsh penalised wing Shane Horgan for a knock-on and when the Irishman queried the decision, the referee abused him.
The Lions complained and Walsh was not awarded any test appointments in the November window that year.
There was more bad news for Walsh this year when he was not awarded any games in the June window or Tri Nations amid fitness concerns. Walsh, 36, admitted he had slipped and was a long way off the form and fitness he had shown at the 2007 World Cup where he was awarded, on merit, the semifinal between South Africa and Argentina.
Walsh did prove his fitness but could not fulfil some November appointments after pulling his hamstring while refereeing in the Air New Zealand Cup.
With a string of misdemeanours behind him, one source told the Herald on Sunday that he felt patience was wearing thin for Walsh.
The source said that while Walsh had shown himself to be an excellent referee when he was fit and focused, there was growing concern about his attitude and ability to prepare and conduct himself in the appropriate professional manner.
Walsh did not respond to a message left on his cellphone.
