Kelvin Deaker may have started refereeing in 1991 but the New Zealander, who is a qualified chartered accountant, has only been a full time official for the last two years – making him one of only five professional referees in his country.
Deaker, who turns 38 during the pool stages of Rugby World Cup 2003, turned to refereeing as a means of remaining active in the game, having found it frustrating to be restricted to the sidelines on match days during his stint as a coach.
A member of the Hawke’s Bay Referees Association, where he now lives after being raised in central Otago, Deaker took charge of his first representative match in 1996 with the NPC Division III clash between Buller and Horowhenua at Westport.
Deaker, who regards a Rugby World Cup final as the “ultimate game to referee”, took control of his first Test on June 17 2001 when Wales beat Japan 53-30 in the Prince Chichubu Stadium in Tokyo.
The New Zealander, preparing for his Rugby World Cup refereeing debut, played the sport in his youth with Southland and Otago, but was forced to stop at provincial age group level because of injury.