Australian referees' panels

Australia has made available its national panels of referees, and it includes one from Western Australia and another from Northern Territory.

The referees come mainly from New South Wales, Queensland and the land of the Brumbies but on the National Development Panel there is Daylan Waetford of Western Australia and on the National Women’s Development Panel there is Roberta Barnett of Northern Territory.

The A Panel brings in Ian Smith of New South Wales, the only one without Super rugby experience. Smith and Julian Pritchard will be taking part in the IRB’s Sevens World Series, Smith in Wellington and San Diego, Pritchard in Wellington, San Diego, Hong Kong and Adelaide.

Also on the A Panel is Stuart Dickinson who was Australia’s only referee at the World Cup. A book on his experiences is due out soon.

Paul Marks was also at the World Cup as a touch judge.

Grant MacNeill is the son of Sandy MacNeill, a former Test referee.

It is strange that the Women’s Panel is labelled Development for Sarah Corrigan has achieved great things in rugby refereeing, including the IRB’s recent award as the Women’s Rugby Personality of the Year.

No longer on panels are George Ayoub and Bradley Wahl, both of whom have retired from active refereeing..

National “A” Panel

Brett Bowden (ACT)
Stuart Dickinson (New South Wales)
Matt Goddard (New South Wales)
James Leckie (New South Wales)
Paul Marks (Queensland)
Ian Smith (New South Wales)

National “B” Panel

Geoff Acton (Queensland)
Dan Cheever (New South Wales)
Angus Gardner (New South Wales)
Steve Hardy (New South Wales)
Andrew Lees (New South Wales)
Grant MacNeill (New South Wales)
Damian Mitchelmore (New South Wales)
Simon Moore (Queensland)
Nathan Pearce (New South Wales)
Julian Pritchard (New South Wales)
James Scholtens (New South Wales)

National Development Panel

Andrew Coorey (Queensland)
John Christophersen (Queensland)
Richard Goswell (New South Wales)
Paul Haydock (Queensland)
Craig Hills (Queensland)
Stephen Hill (Queensland)
Nathan Kearns (ACT)
Steve Leszczynski (Queensland)
Anthony Moyes (New South Wales)
Callan O’Neill (New South Wales)
Paul Twomey (Queensland)
Daylan Waetford (Western Australia)
Tim Willis (ACT)

National Women’s Development Panel

Roberta Barnett (Northern Territory)
Michelle Colgrave (Queensland)
Sarah Corrigan (ACT)