Bob Francis is convinced the new breed of New Zealand rugby referees are on the right track.
And Masterton's Mayor should know, having been re-appointed by the New Zealand Rugby Union as head selector for referees being chosen to officiate at NPC and Super 12 level.
It's a task Francis has been
involved with since the early 1990's and he is satisfied refereeing standards here have moved with the times.
Times which have included the appointment of six full-time professional referees who are joined by 14 others in what could labelled the "A squad"
A notable name missing from this year's line-up is Southlander Paddy O'Brien, regarded by many in recent years as not only the No.1 referee in New Zealand but in the world.
O'Brien had hoped to make the 2005 Lions tour his swansong but injury meant his commitments there were confined to being the video referee in virtually all of the provincial games.
Francis readily concedes the seemingly unflappable O'Brien, who is to take up a refereeing administrative role in Ireland, will be missed but he is confident there are enough "up and comers" in the refereeing ranks to at least soften the blow.
"There are some very promising referees about and it's just a matter of them getting the experience to each their full potential," Francis said.
"We will be keeping a close eye on their development over the next year or two just to ensure they progress along the right lines."
One of the referees in this year's A squad is just 22 years of age but Francis said his inclusion was more because of his own exceptional talent than any moves to appoint younger referees to top positions.
"Age doesn't really come into it??.it's performance which counts," he said.
The fact all provincial matches during the just-completed Lions tour, along with that against New Zealand Maoris, were refereed by one of the six full-time New Zealand referees was not something over which Francis and company had any say.
Rather it was a case of Lions management making the request and their hosts agreeing to it.
