Dunedin-based rugby referee Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri is ditching the whistle and joining the summer code.
The 31-year-old has been the referee education officer at the Otago Rugby Football Union for the past three years but has accepted a position with New Zealand Cricket as the match officials manager.
He replaces Rodger McHarg, who is retiring, and will assume the role on May 23.
While it sounds like a comprehensive change, Eden-Whaitiri is confident his role at the ORFU has set him up well for his new responsibilities.
‘‘It is exciting and will be a big challenge at the same time,'' Eden-Whaitiri said.
‘‘The role is quite wide-reaching, from the community levels of the game to the elite ... but I'm prepared and ready to take it head on.''
Eden-Whaitiri will have to brush up on the laws of cricket, but his focus will be more about ‘‘delivering the community strategy''.
‘‘Just like in rugby, recruitment is an issue, so one of my big tasks is to get more people in the middle umpiring.
‘‘I've been heavily involved with the recruiting of referees while in Otago and I'd like to say we've been successful in that. I've probably upped the numbers by close to 50% in the three years I've been here.''
Eden-Whaitiri has a law degree but has not worked in the industry. His heart was always with sport. When he realised his skill did not match his ambition, he took up refereeing.
He officiated in his first game of rugby while still at school and took up cricket umpiring when he was 18.
He has refereed in 48 first class rugby games and assisted in 21 Super rugby games. But a couple of poor performances in 2013 stymied his career.
‘‘It was hard to take at the time, but that is professional sport.''
Encouraging people to take up umpiring will be a hard sell, he acknowledged.
Drawing on his rugby experience he said you need ‘‘a thick skin''.
‘‘It can be a bit of a thankless task. But once you get out there and get into the heat of the battle ... it is a really good challenge and I just love it.
‘‘There is a lot of noise coming from the sidelines and you are entering into a hostile environment. But if you can just break through that, and we give you the tools and skills to help you cope, then it is a great way to be involved in the game.''
Eden-Whaitiri will not be confined to the office in his new role. He will go to all the international fixtures around New Zealand, which suits him just fine.
‘‘I'm a sports administrator who likes to be out on the grass.''
