Identical twin Chris White was another who caught the refereeing bug in his teens, the Englishman having first blown his whistle as a 17-year-old after being persuaded to take charge of a third team game in the absence of any other volunteer.
White, a former schoolteacher like his compatriot Steve Lander, combined playing centre for Cheltenham, Cheltenham Saracens and Swansea University with refereeing before joining the Gloucester Referees Society in 1990 following a shoulder injury.
The 40-year-old, who also enjoys cricket and has captained the Cheltenham Cricket Club Allsorts third team, went on to make his Test debut eight years later in Tblissi when Georgia beat neighbours Russia 12-6.
White was one of the 16 referees selected for Rugby World Cup 1999 with his first match being Spain’s encounter with Uruguay at Galashiels, followed a few days later by France against Namibia in Bordeaux.
With nearly 20 Tests to his name, he took charge of the 2003 European Cup final between Perpignan and Toulouse at Lansdowne Road, but had to be replaced by compatriot Tony Spreadbury early in the first half after injuring his hamstring.
White, whose wife Lynne is herself a former rugby player, is now a full-time referee.