Bay of Plenty Referees Podcast

After a short break, Sam Fellows and Jamie Bell are back to catch up on everything happening in the Bay of Plenty refereeing community.In this episode:🏆 A full recap of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Referees Awards Night, including all major award winners and service milestones.🎙️ Recognition of the outstanding contributions of referees, coaches and volunteers across the region.🌍 International and provincial appointment news, including WXV selections, NPC, FPC and Heartland Championship appointments.👏 Congratulations to James Dolman and Maggie Cogger-Orr on significant first-class refereeing milestones.📋 Secondary school finals review and our Whistlers of the Week, recognising the match officials who took charge of key finals across the Bay of Plenty.🏉 The week ahead, featuring:National Under-15 Invitational TournamentRugby by the BeachBay of Plenty representative fixturesAIMS GamesThe start of another busy tournament seasonPlus, Sam shares stories from recent representative appointments, including FPC pre-season rugby, Under-20 representative matches and a return to the TMO chair at the Steamers.Whether you're an experienced referee, a new official, a coach, player or supporter, this episode is packed with appointments, achievements, development opportunities and stories from the referee community.🎧 Listen on Spotify, YouTube and your favourite podcast platform.#BayOfPlentyRugby #Referees #RugbyReferee #NPC #FPC #HeartlandChampionship #AIMSGames #RugbyCommunity #BayOfPlentyReferees #RugbyPodcast

This week on the Bay of Plenty Rugby Referees Podcast, we sit down with one of New Zealand's most respected rugby referees, Bryce Lawrence.Bryce reflects on a refereeing journey that took him from community rugby in the Bay of Plenty to the biggest stages in world rugby, including Super Rugby, Test rugby, the British & Irish Lions tour and the Rugby World Cup.In a wide-ranging conversation, Bryce shares:✅ How to make decisions under pressure when everyone thinks you're wrong✅ The importance of preparation and confidence in performance✅ Lessons from refereeing the British & Irish Lions in South Africa✅ Why young referees shouldn't rush their development✅ The biggest mistakes referees make when trying to improve✅ What he would change about the TMO and modern rugby laws✅ How to recover from the toughest game of your career✅ The mentors who shaped his refereeing journey✅ Why giving back to Bay of Plenty rugby still mattersWe also cover the latest referee news, including the disciplinary outcome following referee contact involving Argentina's Tomás Albornoz, the launch of the new Ultimate Sevens competition, international and domestic referee appointments, and this weekend's NPC, Heartland and Northern Region fixtures.Whether you're a referee, coach, player or rugby supporter, this episode is packed with practical lessons on leadership, resilience, performance and service.Guest: Bryce LawrenceHosts: Sam Fellows, Sean Carra and Jamie BellWhistle well.#BayOfPlentyRugbyReferees #RugbyRefereeing #BryceLawrence #RugbyPodcast #NPC #HeartlandChampionship #RefereeDevelopment #Leadership #WorldRugby #BayOfPlentyRugby

This week on the Bay of Plenty Referees Podcast, Sam is joined by Caleb Greaves.A former Bay of Plenty referee, current North Harbour referee and member of the Northern Zone squad, Caleb has spent more than a decade in the game and has become one of the most recognisable voices promoting refereeing in New Zealand.We discuss Caleb's journey into officiating, moving through the referee pathway, life in the Northern Zone environment and the challenges of progressing as a match official.The conversation also explores Caleb's innovative work running the North Harbour Rugby Referees social media channels, including the referee recruitment campaigns that have attracted attention from across New Zealand rugby and helped start new conversations about officiating.One of the highlights of the episode is Caleb's reflections on refereeing the recent Poverty Bay versus Classic All Blacks match at Rugby Park in Gisborne, held to celebrate the opening of the new John Heikell Grandstand, named after his grandfather.We also cover:✅ NPC Round 2 referee appointments✅ Northern Region development and U20 appointments✅ World Rugby women's international appointments✅ Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series appointments✅ New Zealand Rugby's new domestic law modifications✅ A shout-out to the Play On: The Rugby Referee Podcast on reaching 100 episodes✅ This week's Bay of Plenty Referees Whistler of the WeekWhether you're a referee, player, coach or rugby supporter, there's something in this episode for anyone interested in the game from the match official's perspective.Links Mentioned🏉 World Rugby Match Official Appointmentshttps://www.world.rugby/the-game/high-performance/officiating/1023105🏉 Rugby's Greatest Rivalry Series Appointmentshttps://www.world.rugby/the-game/high-performance/officiating/1043278🎙️ Play On: The Rugby Referee Podcasthttps://open.spotify.com/show/5uXSQQoFVDcCQluvr8u3N8🏉 North Harbour Rugby Referees https://www.instagram.com/northharbourreferees

In Episode 20 of the Bay of Plenty Referees Podcast, we sit down with Bay of Plenty referee Jake Ryan following his first selection to the Northern Zone Squad.Jake shares his refereeing journey, from picking up the whistle after his playing career ended to earning recognition at regional level. He talks about balancing rugby with life as a primary school teacher, father of two, and partner, while continuing to develop his craft and chase new opportunities in the game.We also dive into one of the more unusual stories in New Zealand refereeing when Jake reflects on his appearance on The Bachelorette New Zealand, what reality television is really like behind the scenes, and whether dealing with contestants or rugby players is the bigger challenge.Alongside the interview, the team discusses:- NPC opening round appointments and news.- Recent education sessions and referee development.- Whistler of the Week.- The usual Bay of Plenty referee banter.Whether you're a referee, player, coach or rugby fan, this episode offers an honest look at the challenges, opportunities and laughs that come with life in the middle.🎙️ Subscribe on YouTube, Spotify and your favourite podcast platform.#BayOfPlentyReferees #RugbyReferees #NZRugby #Refereeing #BayOfPlentyRugby #NPC #NorthernZone #Podcast #TheBacheloretteNZ #GrassrootsRugby

This week on the Bay of Plenty Referee Podcast, Sam Fellows and Sean Curragh are joined by Matthew Astle in a very timely episode, as Matt prepares to referee the Bay of Plenty Premier Men’s Final. His appointment is recognised in the episode as one of the major fixtures on the Bay of Plenty club rugby calendar and a reflection of the work, consistency and trust that goes into earning a finals appointment. Matt talks through his refereeing journey, beginning in England after injury and coaching led him towards picking up the whistle, before progressing through the English refereeing system and later moving to New Zealand. He shares how he found his way into refereeing in Hawke’s Bay, then King Country, and eventually into the Bay of Plenty, where he has joined a strong and competitive Premier refereeing group. The team also discusses finals rugby, including Sean and Sam Fellows’s recent Premier semi-final appointments, the atmosphere and pressure that comes with knockout rugby, and the importance of staying process-driven when the stakes are high. Matt reflects on what changes, and what should stay the same, when preparing for a final, including alignment with assistant referees, being brave enough to make big calls, and helping provide the best possible platform for the players.In referee news, the panel covers the controversial finish to Argentina v England, including the reaction to Angus Gardner after full-time, and the broader issue of respect for match officials. The episode also looks at the sanction imposed on Gonzalo Quesada following comments about referee Luc Ramos, and how World Rugby’s new match official abuse sanction process is intended to protect referees and support confidence in the game.Matt also shares some of his personal refereeing highlights, including refereeing at Twickenham before moving to New Zealand and having his family back home able to watch him officiate on television for the first time. He finishes with practical advice for anyone thinking about picking up the whistle: embrace the opportunity, give it a go, and enjoy the people, support and pathways that refereeing can provide.The episode closes with Matt being named Whistler of the Week, recognising not only his Premier Men’s Final appointment but also the contribution he has made since joining the Bay of Plenty refereeing community, including helping at meetings, supporting teams and contributing to the connection within the referee group.