Bredin was announced yesterday as a new member of the national referee squad.
Another promising Dunedin referee, Stu Curran, has also been appointed to the 34-strong squad.
The duo join Nick Webster, from North Otago, and James Doleman, of Dunedin, in the squad, which will referee Super Rugby — professional referees only, the Mitre 10 Cup, the Heartland Championship, the Farah Palmer Cup, the Jock Hobbs Memorial national under-19 tournament and other domestic fixtures.
Another referee picked is former North Otago first five-eighth Daniel Waenga. Waenga (34) was playing in France three years ago and has made a swift rise up the ranks.
Bredin, who was New Zealand Netball’s umpire of the year in 2015 and 2016 and took charge of the 2018 Commonwealth Games netball gold medal match, said he was looking forward to his new challenge.
"I’ve had a great netball umpiring career and signed off at the top this year with the gold medal match and premiership final. I achieved everything I wanted to in the sport and have decided now is the time to throw all my effort into rugby refereeing and challenge myself outside of my comfort zone," he said in a statement.
Bredin said he was encouraged to try rugby three years ago by Wellington-based professional rugby referee Ben O’Keeffe.
"I worked closely with Ben when I was umpiring. We did some training sessions together to share ideas and he encouraged me to have a crack at rugby. So far I’ve been struck by how helpful and accepting everyone is and how keen they are to help. The plan is to repay some of that faith."
Returning to the squad for 2019 are professional referees Glen Jackson, Nick Briant, Mike Fraser, O’Keeffe, Paul Williams and Brendon Pickerill. They will vie for potential selection for next year’s World Cup.
Sevens rugby-specialists Richard Kelly and Doleman are set to feature heavily in the World Rugby sevens series this season, as well as Lauren Jenner, who has been appointed for the World Rugby sevens series for the first time.
National referees
The squad
Glen Jackson, Nick Briant, Mike Fraser, Ben O’Keeffe, Paul Williams, Brendon Pickerill, Jamie Nutbrown, Angus Mabey, Richard Kelly, James Doleman, Cam Stone, Michael Winter, James Munro, Tim Griffiths, Nick Webster, Hugh Reed, Tipene Cottrell, Damien McPherson, Nick Hogan, Rebecca Mahoney, Stu Curran*, Jono Bredin*, Marcus Playle*, Chris Paul*, Brittany Andrew*, Maggie Cogger-Orr*, Lauren Jenner*, Daniel Waenga*, George Haswell*, Daniel Moore*, Larissa Collingwood*, Monique Dalley*, Vincent Ringrose, Richard Gordon
* new squad member
