From problem player to referee
In a classic case of “poacher turned gamekeeper”, former Brisbane club rugby firebrand Darren Rees will take charge of his first Premier Rugby game as referee when Wests take on GPS at Sylvan Road tomorrow.
A tight forward for University during the Nineties, Rees often ended up on the wrong side of the law, visiting the judiciary more than half a dozen times during his playing career.
Rees became a referee 12 years ago. He said: “Bob Templeton used to be my coach at Uni and we were good friends but he described me as a mass-murderer turned judge, so that says it all.”
Rees said his experience as a player has helped him as a referee, especially when tempers start to fray.
He said: “I’ve got a lot of experience in the more heated parts of the game, shall we say.
“I suppose I have a reputation around the competition but that helps in the refereeing – as an ex-player they all reckon I wrote the book on foul play but I wouldn’t quite go that far; I might have done a revised edition of what someone else wrote.”
The Welshman moved to Australia in 1989 to play for University and following a career-ending injury, decided to get involved with refereeing as a way to give back to the game he loves so much.
“I came from Wales originally and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for rugby and I still feel I owe the game a bit so it’s a good way to put something back into it.”
Rees encouraged any players interested in continuing with rugby after their playing days to give refereeing a go.
“I think for a lot of guys it’s a worthwhile way to put something into the sport because not everyone’s cut out for coaching and as an ex-player you have a lot to offer in your experience.
“It’s not always seen as a glamorous way to go, people tend to go into coaching more than refereeing but I think more people should give it a go because they’ll enjoy it and it’s very rewarding.”
* The French had a process of rehabilitation for errant players. If a player struck a referee he was banned for life but with the possibility of redemption. If he became a referee and stayed one for five years, he would be allowed to play again. Some stayed referees at the end of the five years.
