Rugby: Walsh to ref in S14

Former international referee Steve Walsh continues his road to rugby redemption when the Super 14 rugby competition kicks off this weekend.

Walsh has been named by Sanzar referees manager Lyndon Bray to control the Western Force-Brumbies game in the late Friday game in Perth.

In April last year, the New Zealand Rugby Union said Walsh had retired from refereeing following an inquiry into a personal employment issue.

In an interview later, Walsh said alcohol-related "unacceptable behaviour" during a Sanzar conference in December 2007 had led to the decision. Walsh, who refereed his first test match in June 1998, was appointed to the last two rugby World Cup tournaments and refereed 212 first class games, including 35 tests.

He shifted to Sydney and late last year was offered a two-year contract with the Australian Rugby Union.

In a statement, Bray said a strong start to the Super 14 was important for referees.

"We want our senior referees leading from the front in week one, particularly with the new Sanzar focus on four priority areas designed to free up the ball, give clarity to rulings at the tackle area and scrum time, and penalise players advancing from off-side positions during kicking phases.

"I'm heartened by the results of applying these priority areas during pre-season games. The signs are good for the start of season," Bray said.

Australia's Stuart Dickinson will whistles the first match for 2010 with the Blues against the Hurricanes in Auckland, while South African Jonathan Kaplan will referee last year's Super 14 champions, the Bulls who face the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Fellow South Africans Craig Joubert, Jaco Peyper and New Zealanders Chris Pollock and Keith Brown will all have first round duties with the whistle.

- NZPA