Otago rugby needs more referees.
''A decade ago we had enough referees but our numbers have been tight for a number of years,'' Dave Kennedy, of the Otago Referees Management Group, said.
''It is difficult to attract volunteers today.''
When secondary school rugby starts next weekend, the 51 referees on the books will have to control from 45 to 47 games from under-14 and above each week in Dunedin. All premier games must have touch judges.
''We need between 12 and 15 more referees,'' Kennedy said.
There are 12 referees in Central Otago to cover the 10 games each week. Six more are needed.
South Otago has 14 referees to cover 11 games and is coping.
The Otago union gets by in tight situations by having double appointments. An experienced referee covers a junior game and then becomes a touch judge in a premier game.
''The last few years have been marginal and this year is no exception,'' Kennedy said. ''We have 20 students this year but they usually leave town when they finish their studies. That keeps the numbers down.''
There are other reasons for the shortage. -A few referees are self-employed and cannot afford to take time off work.
Two former referees hurt themselves playing other sports and are out for the season.
There is the normal winter sickness and the occasional wedding that takes out referees.
The financial woes of the Otago Rugby Football Union have affected the referees and they have not had a fulltime referees education officer for the past 14 months. However, due to funding from the New Zealand Rugby Union an appointment will be made later this month.
Kennedy has been a referee for the past 17 years and has enjoyed the experience.
''It's a good way to keep fit and it's kept me involved in the game without being knocked around physically,'' he said. There are different levels for referees.
''Some will be happy to stay with schoolboy rugby and others will want to develop their skills as far as they can. This can include being a professional referee.''
The decision to include sevens at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics has opened up a new avenue for specialist sevens referees.
''We are interested in recruiting former players who have recently finished playing because they bring experience and nous about the game.''
Referees are well trained by the Otago Rugby Referees Association which gets its share of referees into representative squads for the South Island under-16 and under-18 tournaments and into the South Island zone panel which controls games underneath the ITM Cup.
''Last year three of the top five non-professional referees in Wellington had been trained in Dunedin,'' Kennedy said. Otago referees have an interchange with other unions in New Zealand and last year started a regular interchange with the Gold Coast Union of Queensland.
Otago referees used to have their own clubrooms at Carisbrook, but now meet after games at the new Lone Star Restaurant in North Dunedin.
Development meetings are held at the Logan Park Bowling Club on Monday nights.
Anyone interested in becoming a referee should contact Richard Perkins at the Otago Rugby Football Union on (03) 425-9730 or email richard.perkins@orfu.co.nz
Otago referees
The numbers
Dunedin: 51 referees to cover 45-47 games each week - 12 to 15 more referees needed.
Central Otago: 12 referees cover 10 games - four more needed.
South Otago: 14 referees cover 11 games - managing.
