Walsh's retirement is a major loss

I can't believe some of you here 'bagging' a ref who was a very accomplished professional, some of you need to leave the local parochialism at the door and look at the bigger picture. How can anyone say he was a dud when the likes of Matt Goddard are still controlling our games with the blessings from all unions concerned, and the likes of George Hyube(?) was allowed to ruin games for years, ridiculous.

Walsh was not perfect, none of us are, but he was still a high quality referee. Whats astounds me is he approached the NZRFU admitting he had a drinking problem and asked for help, help which they declined to offer. Here is a quality employee who approaches his employer for help and gets the cold shoulder, then when the problem raises it's ugly head, he is unceremoniously discharged. He asked for one more chance, not forgiveness and has been cut loose. This seems bizarre behaviour when you take into account the continued leniency which is shown to high profile players who continually re offend. Maybe there is more too this story then we know, but at a time when our game needs all the help it can get, too not give one of the best refs in the game a LAST chance seems beyond all rational thinking. As far as I'm concerned, Goddard's behaviour has been far more detrimental to our game then anything Walsh has done.

Just curious, how many people who are sad to see steve gone are Crusader supporters ; )

"Walshs retirement is a major loss" I LOL'd thanks Duncan.

Good luck steve you handsome man you!

A great loss for rugby. Steve is very experienced and a great role model for developing referees. Would have been great for him to sign out in style at the 2011 RWC - instead being hung out to dry for the last few months. Perhaps a 12 month block on his contract could have been a better option to give Steve the opportunity to take some time out, get away from rugby and sort his problems out. With the opportunity to referee again if he proved himself fit (mentally and physically) in the 2010 S14 preseason. All the best Steve

Walsh had a good start to his career, than his ego got too big & his officiating went downhill after that. Im not sad at all he's gone.

I totally agree that this is an over the top punishment for the best kiwi ref we have. As one person put it - the NZRU appears to have plenty of tolerance for those players who have alcohol related troubles and yet not for an excellent referee in a similar position.....go figure!

i think its overboard if one the best referee in the world if forced to retire because of an alcohol incident. surely he should have been warned not to do it again ,maybe a fine or something, and leave it at that.retirement is going too far now...

When you see the performances of some of this years refs in S14 it is hard to see how they can afford to have a ref of Steve Walsh's experience and competence dismissed. Its not hard to get the impression that the refs association / RNZRU have one social standard for players and one for officials. The referee hierachy appear to have a distinct school teacher / boy scout ethos and a closed door / closed ranks mentality when criticised. I wonder if the criticism from the NH has been a comtributing factor.

I am very sorry Steve Walsh has retired. I believe he should be given another chance. quote" he who is without blemish...cast the first stone.

As a Springbok supporter, Walsh is one of the more objective refs in Australasia and NZ. With the likes of Bryce Lawrence and Matt Goddard, I seriously question the decision not to give Walsh another shot.