Steve Walsh failed to heed warnings

Steve Walsh's failure to heed repeated and persistent warnings to clean his act up rather than one act of misconduct led to the termination of his refereeing career, rugby sources have confirmed.

Officials are staying tight lipped on Walsh's fate. However, a clearer picture of the referee's downfall is emerging and the Sunday Star-Times has been told Walsh had been given several last chances before he turned up at a referee's meeting in Sydney earlier this year looking "worse for wear".

He was sent home and, without any public explanation, apparently fired, leading to speculation and accusations of a gross over-reaction from his employer the New Zealand Rugby Union.

However, his track record including several reported and unreported brushes with officialdom, was the catalyst that led to his previously supportive employer losing patience and terminating his contract.

"He was drinking at the last chance saloon a long, long time ago," the source said. "But he just didn't get it."

World referees' boss Paddy O'Brien is believed to have gone into bat for his protege but the NZRU's refusal to endorse his application to referee tests means his career is effectively over. Both parties declined to comment.

- © Fairfax NZ News