James Leckie in Hong Kong for RWC
Hong Kong against Korea
The last of the Asian World Cup qualifiers have been played in Hong Kong and one of the referees for the occasion is James Leckie of Sydney.
It is a serious business – making decisions that decide whether or not teams go to France for the World Cup with all that that implies in kudos and cash.
James was in charge of the second match of the tournament – between Hong Kong and Korea which Korea won 23-5.
This important match was his entry into the Test arena – not that he is without serious preparation for it. In fact he is a great example of steady progress and there is the prospect of still more for the 31-year-old from Sydney Cove.
James is a schoolmaster and it was his school that got him into refereeing. He attended Trinity Grammar School, an Anglican boys' school in Sydney. He played for the school's 1st XV in 1993 as a three-quarter and then for Sydney University's Colts. By then he had already started refereeing.
He started at school "encouraged to get a junior badge by teacher named Peter Goetze, which I did at age 15. I would then referee school games each Saturday morning.
"After numerous shoulder dislocations, I had a shoulder reconstruction and quit playing. The next season (1995) I started refereeing senior rugby."
James joined the New South Wales Referees' Association and went along through the ranks till his big breakthrough into international rugby came in 2005. The good moments before that involved largely schools internationals.
That year James was appointed to the IRB's Under-19 World Championship in Durban. "I was appointed to the final between New Zealand and South Africa, and that got the ball rolling for me. I was then put on the Sevens circuit which helped me a great deal and gave me a lot of international exposure"> Then came the Super 14 and the IRB's Under-21 World Championship.
Then in 2006 the International Rugby Board produced new panels – 21 referees and 19 to act as touch judges and television match officials. James is in that second group of 19, placing him the 40 top-ranked referees of the world.
Now there is his first Test – a Rugby World Cup qualifier. He has certainly taken off, but from a firm platform of experience and deification.
Highlights? "Refereeing the Final of the Commonwealth Games, also the Final of the Hong Kong Sevens. These were both amazing experiences. My first Super 14 (Sharks vs Crusaders) was another big highlight.
Favourite venue? "It would definitely be Tonga, where I refereed a church tournament and also touch-judged a Test. I love the friendly people there and also the beautiful surrounding islands."
Help? "George Ayoub has been a great mentor and friend, as has another Sydney referee, Dan Cheever. Russell Trotter was a great help in the early days in getting me opportunities and the school teacher, Peter Goetze, who got me started is still a wonderful encourager and supporter of mine. Incidentally, he still runs the referees at Trinity now."
Role models? "Andrew Cole is my referee role model because of his composure and empathy for the game. I consider him the best referee I have seen. A rugby player who is role model for me is Waisali Serevi because of his humble nature and Christian witness. I am encouraged by the verse that he writes on all of his jerseys: 'I can do everything through Him who gives me strength' Phillipians 4:13."
Ambition? "I want to be considered as a composed, yet strong referee who is unobtrusive and understanding of what the players are trying to achieve."
What refereeing has done for him? "I believe that I am very fortunate to have been given the opportunities that I have been given in rugby. I love the travel but understand that I will only have this job for a limited time, and so I try to make the most of it."
James Thomas Leckie was born in Sydney on 27 November 1975. He was educated at Trinity Grammar School "where I was vice captain of the school and captain of the swimming team" and Sydney University where he completed a Bachelor of Education degree in Secondary Mathematics. Last year he married Anna, a physiotherapist.
James is back at Trinity Grammar as the director of sport and a maths teacher. In 2006 he has had a part-time contract with the Australian Rugby Union but has signed a full-time contract starting on 1 January 2007, which will end his full-time teaching at Trinity.
