Paddy O’Brien is no stranger to refereeing at a Rugby World Cup, the New Zealander having had the honour of controlling the opening match of the 1999 tournament when Wales beat Argentina 23-18 at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
The 44 year old claimed another honour when he became New Zealand’s most capped Test official on March 29 2003, the Six Nations encounter between France and Wales in Paris being his 27th Test to take him past Dave Bishop’s record.
This record includes the series deciding third Test between Australia and the British and Irish Lions in Sydney in July 2001.
Born in Southland as the middle child of nine, O’Brien began refereeing with the Southland Referees Association in 1984 and combined that with 17 years in the New Zealand Police Force between turning professional.
O’Brien took charge of his first Test on October 23 1994 with the Rugby World Cup qualifier between Hong Kong and South Korea in Kuala Lumpur, a match the Koreans won 28-17.
The New Zealander, whose first professional game came in the Super 12 in 1996, played his rugby as a full back and wing for Southland at Under 18 and B level, as well as Sevens, between 1976 and 1984.