Jim Thomson tells a good story about refereeing in modern times.
''I remember being out at Strath Taieri and the referee gets changed in the same rooms as the team. At the end of the game someone said to me 'you missed a bit out there today'.
''I said 'yeah, I probably did and that's why I'm reffing at Strath Taieri. You dropped a bit of ball out there today. And that's probably why you're playing at Strath Taieri'.''
That sums up Thomson.
A man who stuck up for the referees, always with a bit of humour and the thought the game should never be taken too seriously.
Now after 10 years as chairman of the Otago Rugby Referees Association, Thomson has given up his role.
Thomson (60), a farmer at Macraes, said he had done his time and was ready to take a step back.
''I've had a fair crack and I think it is time for someone else to come in, with some fresh ideas and to take it along,'' he said.
''Whenever something came up about referees, whatever it was, my name was also mentioned. I'd had a good run for the past 10 years but it is time to do something different.
''I originally did the job for five years but the guy who took over from me only lasted six months so I had to come back on for another five years.''
Otago has managed to attract 48 new referees over the past two years and he paid tribute to the union's referee education officer Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri.
''Overall across the country the retention rate is about 75% and we're on 76% which is good considering the amount of students that we have who move on after graduating.''
Thomson said he had really enjoyed the role and, if anything, the abuse of referees had decreased over the years.
''I've met some wonderful young men and young women. You get involved with young people and they keep you young.
''I think things have improved with regards to the abuse. One thing that does amaze me is not the abuse but more the lack of knowledge. You're watching a game and you hear comments and you wonder if people are watching the same game.
''But there are some bloody good people in the clubs. You get the odd clown but, by and large, everyone wants to help.''
Rugby was a complicated game. Always had been and always would be.
''If the average person sat down and read the law book they would be totally confused. And with the NZRU exam you don't have to get 50%, you have to get 80% to pass.
''It is interesting working with young referees. There are so many thing they can rule on technically but we try to work on them to rule on things of consequence; look at the game as a player instead as just a referee.
''A few years ago they [NZRU] were trying to identify young guys of 16 to 18 to go on to be top refs. Now they are looking at guys in their late 20s who have played 50 premier games-plus to go on to the top.
"What they were doing was putting guys under pressure well before they had the life skills to cope with it.''
Thomson said players could tell early on how good a referee was.
''It is all about how you sell their decision. If the referees are confident and get it right most of the time then they should have a good game ... to me is about getting the people to a place where their abilities and ambitions intersect.''
Thomson, who took up the whistle as he did not want to do the garden when the family bought a house in Dunedin, admitted refereeing could be a lonely job at times.
He had tried to create a club atmosphere for referees where people could enjoy each other's company.
He will still coach some referees and be an interested spectator.
Chris Hart has taken over as chairman of the association.
