Ethan Hindry meets international rugby ref

Ethan Hindry with international rugby referee Nigel Owens.

The recent All Blacks versus Argentina game in New Plymouth was extra special for Ethan Hindry.

The 10-year-old, who is one of the country's youngest referees, met the game's referee, Nigel Owens, before kick off.

He has also met with Jaco Peyper, George Ayoub, Romain Poite and Jerome Garces earlier this year.

Advice from the referees has been to "have fun, learn from your mistakes and keep your eye on the ball".

Hindry, who attends Kapanui School, referees games each week for the Paraparaumu Junior Rugby Club and has been attached to the under 9s Cobras this season. He also referees touch rugby which is about to start again in term four.

Hindry has played rugby from a young age but when he was 8 he had three concussions, not from rugby.

"At the time there were several stories in the news of teens with serious head injuries from rugby and it made me no longer want to play.

"But I loved the game so mum found a local refereeing course run by the Paraparaumu Junior Rugby Club."

He's had a lot of support starting with Blair Harley who took him into his training programme at the club.

"The refs course is normally only for those who are 10+ and I was not quite 9 when I started."

This year Regan Foote, from the club, has been his referee coach.

"He has really helped me develop my skills even further."

Hindry also credits the Cobras for their support as well as the Horowhenua Kapiti Referees Association "for continuing my education and allowing me to attend their weekly training meetings".

Hindry's long-term refereeing goal is to be New Zealand's youngest international referee.

"Steve Walsh currently holds this.

"He was 23 but he did not start refereeing until he was 16."

To achieve his goal he knows he has got to "do some great national refereeing to get recognised".