Bad boy Walsh back on Super 14 referee panel

Bad boy referee Steve Walsh is back in Sanzar's good books, the now Australian-domiciled Kiwi whistle-blower named on a new-look officials panel for next year's Super 14.

Walsh has not made the eight-man "merit" - or senior -- panel which includes New Zealand's Bryce Lawrence, Chris Pollock and Keith Brown, but has been included in a nine-strong "reserves" group with the promise of a quick promotion.

And that has to be considered a dramatic return for the New Zealander who had his New Zealand contract terminated this year after a catalogue of off-field misdemeanours, culminating in some poor behaviour at a Sanzar referees conference.

But Walsh has taken his punishment on the chin and crossed the Tasman in an effort to resurrect his career, starting with a stint in Sydney club rugby.

"It's great to have this high calibre of referees in the reserve crew and we fully expect that they will be promoted quickly into the senior group of starting referees for Super rugby," said NZ-based Sanzar refs boss Lyndon Bray.

"Steve Walsh is an experienced international referee and we welcome him [back] into the camp.  Several referees in the reserve panel, whom have previously refereed Super 14 matches, will have the opportunity to seek promotion to the merit panel, subject to form," he added.

Top South African whistle-blowers Jonathan Kaplan, Craig Joubert, Mark Lawrence and Marius Jonker joined the three New Zealanders and controversial Aussie Stuart Dickinson  on the merit panel.

All eight senior ref have extensive experience at Super and international level. 

 "We are very fortunate to have such a strong team of internationally experienced referees - they set a very high standard of performance across all three Sanzar nations," said Bray.

Vinny Munro, Garratt Williamson, Jonathon White are the three New Zealand referees to make it on to the reserves panel.

The referees have been ranked for the first time under a new selection process.  Colin Hawke (New Zealand), Andrew Cole (Australia) and Tappe Henning (South Africa) will closely monitor referee performances as part of a promotion/relegation system.

"We are also looking ahead to developing our depth in international referees, so some of our selections reflect the confidence we have in supporting upcoming talent from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa," added Bray.

"We will be staying true to the goal of at least eighty per cent of the matches being refereed by our top officials," he said.

2010 Super Rugby match official duty:

Merit panel: Jonathan Kaplan, Craig Joubert, Mark Lawrence, Marius Jonker (South Africa); Bryce Lawrence, Chris Pollock, Keith Brown (New Zealand); Stuart Dickinson (Australia).

Reserve panel: Steve Walsh, Nathan Pearce, Paul Marks, Ian Smith (Australia); Jaco Peyper, Pro Legoete (South Africa); Vinny Munro, Garratt Williamson, Jonathon White (New Zealand).

- © Fairfax NZ News