No more Tests for Spreadbury
Tony Spreadbury, one of the most recognisable referees in world rugby, has decided to end his international refereeing career.
Spreadbury had a unique, inimitable style of refereeing. He did it with a laugh and a chuckle, always with a smile, giving every impression of enjoying himself and was simple and direct in his dealings with players. He could also act as firmly as you liked, for he was serious about refereeing. In the World Cup qualifier in Montevideo he sent off a Uruguayan lock in the first half against Portugal. At the World Cup he took the hard decision to penalise the Canadian full-back at the goal-line against Fiji, causing much Canadian anger.
He has had a long career. He started when still a boy and once refereed a match in which his father played, causing a family dispute when he turned down a try which his father thought he had scored.
His long career has been an illustrious one. He reached the top of the England cup set-up in 1987 when he was just 25. His first top match was Waterloo v Nottingham on 17 October 1987, the first of 51 Courage Division One games. In 1997, with the introduction of new club competitions in England he refereed his first Premiership match – London Irish v Sale – and went on to referee 108 Premiership matches in all.
In 1990 when he was 27, he refereed his first Test: France v Italy, and in a 17-year international career he refereed 41 Tests, just three behind the most-capped Test referees of all time – Derek Bevan and Paul Honiss. Spreadbury achieved this despite being dropped off the international panel for a while. But he bounced back and went to his second World Cup in 2007, refereeing the high-profile opening match between hosts France and Argentina.
Spreadbury was originally a paramedic, a useful skill in a game where serious injuries are possible.
On one sad occasion, he went from Bath to Northampton to referee a match practice for the England Under-21 side. He set a scrum, it collapsed and Matt Hampson went down with a broken neck. Spreaders was able to resuscitate him. He probably saved Hampson’s life and stabilised him before he was taken to Northampton General Hospital from where he was transferred to Stoke Mandeville.
On another occasion he had refereed in Bristol and then rushed home to Bath to go on duty. The first call was to an elderly man who was having a heart attack. Spreaders rushed upstairs to where the suffering man was in a chair with a television set opposite. The programme playing was Match of the Day. The old man took one look at Spreaders, pointed at the screen and slumped over dead. Spreaders tells that story against himself.
After 17 years as a paramedic Spreadbury became a professional referee, in that refereeing now became his full-time career. Professional or not he still refereed rugby football in the spirit of old amateur days when the game was for obvious enjoyment and camaraderie.
Once he was knocked out cold while refereeing. Once he showed a streaker a red card as he flashed past. Once he showed the crowd a yellow card. It was a Premiership match in England between Wasps and West Hartlepool. There was a kick at goal. The crowd made rude noises. Spreadbury put a finger to his lips to call for silence. The crowd took no notice. He then showed them a yellow card, which changed the noise to amusement.
He got on well with other referees and many have found help from him and a role model in him.
Paddy O’Brien, a former top referee and currently the IRB’s manager of referees. “Tony is one of the Game’s unique personalities and his leadership, enthusiasm and commitment to the cause has been a huge inspiration to the next generation of referees coming through the system,” said Paddy O’Brien, a former top referee and currently the IRB’s manager of referees.
“As someone who has always commanded respect from his peers with his professional approach to the role, Tony’s retirement will leave a big hole in the IRB Elite Panel in terms of experience and presence. I know that I speak on behalf of all the elite match officials at Rugby World Cup and the IRB when I thank him for his excellent service.”
Spreadbury said of his career: “I have enjoyed a wonderful time refereeing at elite level and have made many friends along the way. However, after nearly two decades at the top of the Game the time is right for me to step aside and let the talented young referees both in England and on the IRB Elite Panel take up the mantle. I would like to thank all those who have supported me along the way, including my family, colleagues, the RFU and the IRB.”
“It will be strange departing the international scene, but I regard this as the end of the chapter and not the book. I still have a passion for the whistle and will continue to officiate at domestic level and am looking forward to returning to Premiership action following the completion of Rugby World Cup.”
Anthony John Spreadbury, called Spreaders by everybody except his mother, was born in Bath on 29 March 1962. He still lives in Bath where he sings in the church choir.
Spreaders and his unique style will be talked about long after his whistle is silent.
