KEY POINTS:
No need to look out for referee Steve Walsh in the early rounds of the Super 14 this year.
The prominent - and controversial - New Zealand ref has not been considered for the opening month of Super 14 matches for "personal employment" reasons.
Walsh's name was missing when the referee appointments for the first four rounds of matches was released by competition governing body Sanzar today.
A note simply says: "Steve Walsh was not considered for selection at this point for the first four weeks of Super 14 due to a personal employment matter.
"The NZRU and Mr Walsh will not make any further comment on the matter at this time."
Walsh was reportedly involved in an incident at a Sanzar conference in Sydney last month but has been unwilling to comment on it.
The Herald on Sunday initially reported that Walsh was drunk at a morning session of the conference and that other participants told him to leave.
He is said to have returned later in the day, where he was told not to attend the following day's session which was for referees only.
Walsh has had what could be described as a chequered past in terms of disciplinary matters.
In the 2003 Rugby World Cup he was suspended for three days for inappropriate behaviour towards the England rugby team, after an altercation with England fitness coach Dave Reddin, missing one match.
He went on to referee the quarter final between Australia and Scotland.
Walsh was again suspended for four months in 2005 during the Lions tour of New Zealand for verbally abusing Irish winger Shane Horgan, after a disputed decision.
Meanwhile, today's announcement unveils the new SANZAR policy of appointment on merit rather than neutrality.
An example comes in the first game in Dunedin on February 13, where Australian Matt Goddard will control the Highlanders and ACT Brumbies match.
Later that night, New Zealand's Bryce Lawrence will whistle the match between the Western Force and Blues in Perth.
Under previous SANZAR rules, both matches would have been controlled by a South African referees.
Lawrence is the busiest referee in the opening month, controlling a match in each of the first four weeks.
MERIT PANEL (alphabetical order):
Stuart Dickinson (Australia), Matt Goddard (Australia), Marius Jonker (South Africa), Craig Joubert (South Africa), Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa), Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Mark Lawrence (South Africa), James Leckie (Australia), Steve Walsh (New Zealand)*.
SHADOW PANEL (alphabetical order):
Paul Marks (Aust ralia), Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Ian Smith (Australia).
RESERVE BENCH (alphabetical order):
Phillip Bosch (South Africa), Keith Brown (New Zealand), Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Nathan Pearce (Australia).
- NZPA, NZHERALD STAFF
