Donal Courtney - referee
South Africa vs Scotland
Donal Courtney has been to South Africa before, once in dramatic circumstances in a match which he still regards as the highlight of his career. He is back in South Africa to referee the Durban Test between South Africa and Scotland.
In 2004 he came merrily to Ellis Park to be touch judge to Nigel Williams of Wales in the Tri-Nations match between South Africa and New Zealand. Ten minutes into the match and he was on the field as the referee – no time for nerves, just on and blowing. It was the match which clinched the Tri-Nations title for South Africa.
Speaking about it recently, Donal said: "My first ever visit was the 'eventful' trip to Jo' burg when Nigel got injured. That was truly amazing. I guess coming on after 10 mins I did not have a chance to be nervous. It is certainly the highlight of my reffing career so far even taking into account reffing two Six Nations games. The latter would be considered the pinnacle for a northern hemisphere ref."
He was the touch judge at Newlands in 2005 and this time stayed touch judge when the Springboks were the only team to beat the All Blacks that year.
Donal is a chartered accountant by profession and the European CFO for Capmark Financial Services, which is based in the US.
He is also married to Sarah and they have three children.
There is a bit of a balancing act required – family, job, refereeing
Donal says: "During the European season the vast majority of the rugby is played at the weekends with European Cup and Celtic League matches in England, Scotland, Wales and France. This generally involves traveling on a Friday afternoon and returning on a Sunday. The pressure during this period is more of a family one and without my very understanding wife Sarah I would be goosed!! During our summer we obviously have to make trips to the Southern Hemisphere and this is where it puts a bit more pressure on the job front. I am lucky in that I have an understanding employer."
Like all sportsmen he is liable to injury. "For the November tests I was selected to referee Scotland and New Zealand in the last game of the New Zealand tour. Unfortunately I tore a groin in the week before the game and had to stand down. I was subsequently out of action for the next two-and-half months and eventually started reffing again towards the end of Jan 2006."
Help along the way? "In Ireland we are very lucky to have the likes of Owen Doyle, David McHugh, Brian Sterling and a number of others who are there to help. From the perspective of more recent international refs I would admire the styles of Andre Watson, Jonathan Kaplan and Paddy O'Brien and of course Ireland's two other international referees Alan Lewis and Alain Rolland."
Favourite matches so far? "My first six nations match – Wales vs Scotland in 2004, replacing Nigel Williams in Jo'burg in 2004 and Blackrock vs Clontarf Under-10 in January 2006, my first match back from injury."
On being a referee: "Refereeing is an amazing way to keep fit and be part of a game you love. It owes me nothing at this stage!"
Fact File
Full name: Donal Gerard Courtney
Born: Dublin, 22 May 1964
Educated: Christian Brothers College Monkstown Park, Trinity College Dublin, Master of Business Studies, Fellow of the Institute Of Chartered Accountants in Ireland
Occupation: chartered accountant, European CFO of the General Motors property financing bank based in Dublin's International Financial Services Centre
Family: Married to Sarah with three children
Playing career: Wing for Monkstown
Started refereeing: 1992
Referees' Society: Leinster Branch of Referees
First Test: 2002, Uruguay vs USA
Tests:
2002
Uruguay 34 vs 23 Chile, 34-23
Italy vs Romania, 25-17
2003
Spain vs United States, 13-62
Spain vs Tunisia, 33-16
Scotland vs Italy, 47-15
2004
Wales vs Scotland, 23-10
Argentina vs Wales, 50-44
Argentina vs Wales, 20-35
Romania vs Japan, 25-10
South Africa vs New Zealand, 40-26 (replacement during match)
2005
Italy vs France, 13-56
South Africa vs Uruguay, 134-3
South Africa vs France, 27-13
