Lyndon Bray - a communicating referee
Lyndon Bray of Wellington, New Zealand, is one of the world’s top referees who has been refereeing particularly well in the 2007 Super 14 – certainly one of the best communicators amongst referees with his concise, matter-of-fact way of talking. we asked him about his career, and he told us.
It is often asked, “How did you get into refereeing?” To answer that, we have to start with the classic New Zealand vs South Africa test series.
My first recollection of rugby was running around at a park called Montecillo, playing for the Zingari junior club. I played anywhere from flyhalf to wing, before settling on the Number 10. jersey.
My ambition? To play for the All Blacks, of course! And one day, I was going to kick the goal to beat South Africa – just like Don Clark! I remember getting up in the middle of the night, in 1976, to watch the All Blacks take on the might of South Africa. For four weekends, at the age of 10, my father allowed me to wake up and watch my beloved team, as they fought the South Africans and the man wearing white! It was then that I realized the huge significance the referee can have on the game and thus began a fascination with the role, which culminated in my decision to referee at the age of 16.
Now let’s set the record straight here – I was literally hopeless as a Number 10, although I was sure I could read the game! The problem was, I could not carry out what needed to be done, hence my decision to blow the whistle instead! My dream changed to refereeing the major series between Australia and South Africa, France and England, to name a few!
My career started quietly and I followed my “idols” – David Bishop and Lindsay McLachlan from New Zealand, the late Kerry Fitzgerald from Australia and Fred Howard from England. As I progressed, Dave Bishop became my most influential role model, to the extent that for a long time I modelled my refereeing on him. Eventually, I found my own style and approach, as I matured, definitely helped by four years of “overseas experience” in Australia.
My early chance came in 1992, when I was appointed to New South Wales vs North Harbour (Super 10 game). I was only 24 and in hindsight nowhere near ready to handle this occasion. Phil Kearns played and asked me a poignant question on the field: “You’re not out here, are you?” I remember I responded with a simple “Yes”, and he was right! I realised later that I was unprepared, unsure of myself and quite simply stressed to the point of being out of control!
Some years later, and after a great tour of Australia (including the experience of being on their National Panel for two years), I returned to New Zealand in 1999, ready for a renewed assault on the top levels of the game. My preparation was more thorough, my knowledge more complete and I was mentally a much better person than when I left New Zealand four years earlier.
I reached Super 12 again in 2002 and was able to happily complete some key games, therefore being offered a professional contract, starting in 2003. I have enjoyed this role ever since and feel that I enjoy strong credibility at the Super 14 level.
The downside of our career raised its ugly head in 2005, after a successful couple of games for me in the Irish and British Lions tour of New Zealand. A bad run of injuries (related to a bad foot condition) finally forced me to take the rest of the year off and with that time out came the bad news that I was dropped from the International Rugby Board Test Referee Panel. It was hard to take at the time, but in reality was the only decision they could make at the time and it was now up to me how I responded.
2006 saw me contract a new physical trainer – Jamie Tout – and we worked hard on a new running technique which has ultimately seen me not only return to full fitness, but has improved my efficiency on the field. With this improved physical condition, and a strong mental approach, I have returned to the IRB Test Panel this year and I am now looking forward to some new challenges: namely refereeing Argentina against Ireland and Italy, in Argentina!
The benefit of refereeing has been massive: firstly, it has forced me to evaluate who I am as a person and how I manage people and situations. It has forced me to work hard on my physical condition into my 40’s and retain a good health. It has helped me to gain a profile and credibility in my life and profession (as a Results Coach) and I have met so many special and gifted people through my role in this wonderful industry.
Because of the attention placed on referees, when they get things wrong, it has been a career perhaps more than others which has forced me to be able to respond to what happens to me, rather than dwell on the impact of what happens to me. I have been able to respond to mistakes I make and to respond to the reaction of others. I will carry these lessons with me for the rest of my life!
I have been fortunate enough to see parts of the world I never would have seen, and to interact with different cultures, beliefs and behaviours from what I am used to. I have been placed in the position of becoming far more receptive to different people and to understand that my belief structures are not “the be all and end all to life”.
Finally, what have I learnt about communication and getting results, as a referee? I know that I have developed a very simple ethos to refereeing. I work off a simple “game plan”, based on a simple clarity statement: “set pieces are a clean contest and the tackle is realising quick ball”. The game plan itself is then a series of simple triggers which help achieve that clarity statement. I communicate with the captains on the field, based on these things, and my discussion with coaches off the field is also based on the same things. I have found that the more low key, unemotional and task-based my communication on the field is, the easier it is to gain compliance with the players and therefore to achieve the results for the benefit of the game. The last catchphrase about communication” “less is more”! Learn to talk only when it is relevant, and say things clearly and concisely. Otherwise, you are wasting your time!
There is one thing for sure – when I started back in 1983, I did not fully comprehend what sort of life rugby had in store for me. But I can say with total confidence: I would not swap it for all the diamonds in Africa!
