Steve Walsh is no different to many of his fellow officials in that he took up refereeing after injury ended his playing career, except that in his case he suffered a spinal injury at the age of just 13.
The New Zealander, who until then had played provincial rugby, was subsequently found to have two-and-a-half vertebrae – a birth defect that made his neck unstable and so ruled out a contact sport like rugby.
Walsh was “still passionate about rugby and wanted to stay in the game”, so turned to refereeing at 16, having had a spell coaching young children, and went on to become the youngest official to make his NPC debut, in Division Three, just four years later.
The 31-year-old, now a professional referee but with a background in sales, made his Test debut on June 13 1998 when France beat Argentina 35-18 in Buenos Aires and is currently the youngest Test referee at the top level.
Walsh, who made his Rugby World Cup debut in 1999 as a touch judge, took control of this year’s Tri Nations opener between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town on July 12.
He is a member of the North Harbour Referees Association.