Mate Samuels, 33, has been refereeing for around 10 months. He says he was unable to commit to playing rugby any more because of study commitments, but still wanted to be involved in the game.
"I was also asked by many refs over the years if I wanted the whistle
so I finally said yes," said Samuels who lives in Otumoetai but is originally from Matakana Island.
He loves the challenge of refereeing.
"It looks easy from a player's perspective but when you try it, it's a lot harder than you think and it actually takes a lot more skill than it looks."
After only been refereeing for a short time, Samuels was involved in the Bayleys National Sevens in Rotorua this year which he describes as his biggest highlight to date. "I've come to realise that these refs are not such bad guys like I used to think they were in my playing days!" he laughed.
