Pick up the whistle
Local rugby referee shares his thoughts on the game and becoming a referee.
“If the sound of a whistle excites you and gets your blood pumping then you should be on the field, refereeing.”
These are the words of Eben Barnard, an Elspark resident and the current club captain for referees of the Falcons Referee Society.
For Barnard it was always a dream to become a rugby referee.
The born and bred Germiston man played rugby (school and club) until the age of 33, but he always wanted to be on the field refereeing the match.
“In 2007 I had an accident and broke my coccyx,” he said.
“As a result of this I picked up 16kg and I decided to pursue refereeing.
“I am passionate about rugby, but I also decided to become a referee as a means to get fit again.”
So, in 2008, Barnard joined the Lions Referee Society and, under the coaching of Michael Cupido, he qualified as a referee 12 months later.
“I have met so many people who I never would have, except through refereeing,” said Barnard.
But, being a referee is not a glamorous job.
Barnard has to deal with irate fans; in one incident a few years ago he had to be escorted off the premises as fans wanted to assault him.
But this does not worry him.
“I am on the field to do the best job I can and, once on the field, I focus totally on refereeing and I’m not influenced by outside things,” he said.
“You need to call each play honestly and to be consistent and, because of that, you are often criticised.”
Barnard said that what fans should remember is that if they misbehave they only get their club into trouble.
Being a rugby referee takes a lot of dedication.
You need to be extremely fit and have to pass your law exams, know how to apply the laws and be able to keep control on the field.
Barnard works on his fitness all year round.
Currently, he is in his ninth season of refereeing and is aiming to make it at least 10 years.
“I would then like to become a referee coach and attain my Springbok colours that way,” he said.
“Every season I am still learning and the game of rugby is changing all the time.”
Barnard told the GCN that there is currently a shortage of rugby referees.
“From a Friday afternoon to a Saturday afternoon I will sometimes have to refereefive or six games,” he said.
“I referee school rugby games, as well as first team club games and have been appointed for Currie Cup duties, as well.
“And, if I referee during the week, I sometimes end up covering about 10 matches.”
Potential referees must remember that not everybody is going to referee at first team matches, but if you have a love for the game, every match is enjoyable.
“As a referee I have also learnt to see the game from a bit of a different perspective,” Barnard said.
He runs his own debt collecting business, which he also enjoys immensely as he loves a challenge and he enjoys spending time with his family; his wife Claudie, son Eben Junior (21) and twin daughters Marissa and Monique (19).
“Starting a business was always a dream of mine and my brother Steven,” Barnard said.
“When he sadly passed away in 2009, I decided to go ahead and pursue it.”
Barnard encourages everyone who gets to a match and gets excited to hear the whistle blowing to pick it up and make refereeing part of their lives.
“Refereeing is a dying culture, but without one you can’t have a match,” he said.
If you are interested in becoming a rugby referee you can email ebiesdieref@hotmail.co.za, call Barnard on 073 098 3403, or visit www.valkereferees.co.za
“If you want to become fit and contribute to the game of rugby, but can’t play anymore, consider becoming a referee,” Barnard said.
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