New regional model for referee development selects 12 from ‘Crusaders Region’

Taneika Uerata

Taneika joins a very small but talented group of Canterbury female referees who have received the honor of being presented with CRFU Blazer after refereeing 11 First Class Fixtures.  Nicky Van der Klye (nee Inwood) and Chelsea Gillespie (nee Gurr) are the other two members of this group.

Previously a nationwide program, the new regional model has allowed the total number of selected referees to increase from 22 in 2022, to 75 members this year including the 12 well deserving Cantabrians.

Designed to upskill referees from representatives to professional rugby, “The main effort is to bring consistency to the game” says Kane McBride, the regional head coach, “making sure everything is up to the standard of New Zealand Rugby”.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s an U19, Heartland or NPC, you’re applying the same philosophies around certain aspects of the game” says McBride, “every ref is an individual, but we still want them to be consistent”.

Not lacking in experience, the Crusaders region boasts an NPC, FPC and two heartland referees “we can look to them for leadership to help the younger ones in the group” says McBride “it’s quite an exciting team”.

Selected for her fourth year, Taneika Uerata, thinks highly of the new regional model, “I think it’s cool, it opens up opportunities for other younger referees who haven’t had a taste for provincial rugby”.

Uerata is well accustomed by now but still doesn’t take it for granted “you’ve still got to perform your best, your place isn’t guaranteed”.

Karl Hancox, a seasoned North Canterbury referee who officiated his 100th premier game last year, has been selected for the first time. “I wasn’t expecting it, it’s a real surprise” Hancox said, after he received his call of congratulations from McBride.

Hancox says the program has the added bonus of filtering information back down to club rugby “we’ll be able to push out a lot more information back into the communities and have the same focuses”.

Not only designed to ensure a consistency in refereeing games across the country, the program also focuses on personal development.

The first regional camp takes place on March 16 and will “concentrate on personal plans of the year, and game planning as well” says McBride, “we’ll be sowing the seed – who do we want to be as a team, what’s our identity? Set expectations”.

Words by Hannah Yates