Referee Jamie Nutbrown celebrates 50th Premier Game

Community Referee Jamie Nutbrown brought up his 50th Premier/Division 1 game in Canterbury over the weekend, officiating the DCL Shield match between Marist Albion and Sumner.

It signalled the latest in a long list of Rugby achievements for the former Belfast, Canterbury and Crusaders halfback, who was also a member of the New Zealand Referees National Squad for three years, refereeing Super Rugby and NPC during his career with the whistle in hand.  

“I wanted to stay involved in rugby off the back of a shoulder reconstruction at the end of my playing days,” said Nutbrown, “I was doing a bit of coaching with Te Puke the year I was injured and as a coach, you’re on the sideline, so I just turned up to a meeting in the Bay of Plenty and was out on a kids game the next week.”

“It was a bit daunting at the start, but once you got into it, you really enjoy it.” Nutbrown said.

Nutbrown continued his refereeing career upon moving back to Canterbury in 2014, refereeing his first Division 1 match in 2015.

“I really enjoy refereeing community rugby, having that chance to forget about work, contribute to a good game and test yourself both mentally and physically.” Nutbrown said.

“It’s also good to connect to with the club players and coaches as well, I know a few of the coaches and there’s probably only one player playing now that was going when I was still going in Grubby (Marist Albion’s Rowan O’Gorman). But it’s good to connect to grassroots and the rugby now is so quick and physical too.”

Alongside volunteering his time as a referee, Nutbrown also coaches his son Hugo’s U12 team at Belfast.

“It’s great to coach his sides, up to Under 12 now, and then refereeing, finding the balance between officiating on the laws and coaching them on the field too, it’s an enjoyable experience being able to be involved in that way.”

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