Another Rugby World Cup referee makes SHOCK retirement call

Jared Wright 07 Mar 2024 6:00 AM

Yet another Rugby World Cup match official has decided to follow the likes of Wayne Barnes, Jaco Peyper, Tom Foley and Joy Neville in announcing their retirement.

Top New Zealand referee Brendon Pickerill is hanging up his whistle and will officiate his final game this weekend, the Super Rugby Pacific clash between Moana Pasifika and the Melbourne Rebels.

Brendon Pickerill hangs up the whistle

New Zealand Rugby confirmed the news on Tuesday with a brief statement on their social media accounts.

“After 151 first-class matches, including 10 Test matches, 60 Super Rugby matches, and 58 NPC matches, Brendon Pickerill has made the tough decision to hang up his whistle,” their Instagram post read.

“Known for his consistency, proficiency, and calm nature on the pitch, and his professionalism and passion for the game off of the pitch, we wish Brendon well on his next adventure. Ngā mihi nui, you’ll always be part of the NZR whānau.”

Pickerill featured at the 2019 Rugby World Cup as an assistant referee and four years later was included as TMO for the 2023 Rugby World Cup, holding the role for seven matches, including the semi-final between England and South Africa.

The 34-year-old is one of just five of New Zealand’s full-time professional rugby referees, and while his decision has come as a shock, Stuff.co.nz reports that he is set to take up a position with World Rugby.

Pickerill also had the rare distinction of being a New Zealander to referee the All Blacks. This occurred in 2021 when Covid restrictions did not allow officials from afar, and he took charge of the All Blacks’ 57-22 victory over the Wallabies at Eden Park.

His decision follows the likes of Barnes, Peyper, Foley and Neville who all hung up their whistles for multiple reasons following the tournament in France.

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Other referee retirements

Barnes was nearing the end of his career ahead of the World Cup and retired, having officiated the most Test matches of all time. He is also shifting his focus to his law practice.

Meanwhile, Peyper has taken up a position within the SA Rugby coaching structures after his Rugby World Cup was cut short due to injury. He was set to officiate one of the Six Nations matches this year but hadn’t recovered in time to do so and retired from refereeing before joining the Springboks staff.

Foley hasn’t retired from all officiating duties but has stepped back from the international game for the foreseeable future.

“The pressure and scrutiny I came under after the Rugby World Cup final, along with a torrent of criticism and abuse online, has helped to reaffirm that this is the right decision for me at this point in my life,” the Englishman said in a statement confirming his decision.

“While it’s a privilege to be at the heart of some of the sport’s most iconic moments, the increasing levels of vitriol, when the demands and expectations are so high, have led me to this moment.”

Finally, Neville retired from officiating as she takes up a role as the new referee development manager in Connacht.

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