Stuart Dickinson
Date of Birth/Where: 19/07/1968, Sydney
Test Match Appearances: 51
2011 Appearances: 5
Test Debut: 8th February, 1997 (Papua New Guinea v Tahiti)
Super Rugby Debut: 1996
Stuart Dickinson is now 41 years old, and considered one of the most elite referees in Rugby Union; refereeing three World Cups. Stuart’s interest in Rugby started from a young age, refereeing when he was 12, and then playing fly half and fullback for his school, Epping Boys High.
Steve Walsh
Date of Birth/Where: 28/3/1972, New Zealand
Test Match Appearances: 38
2011 Appearances: 1
Test Debut: 1998 (Argentina v France)
Super Rugby Debut: 1997
Steve Walsh will be refereeing at his fourth Rugby World Cup, in New Zealand from September following his selection on a 10 man referee panel for Rugby’s ultimate prize. Steve is originally a New Zealander, but now lives in Sydney, he started refereeing as a child and refereed his first Super Rugby match at only 25 and his first Test at 26.
Nathan Pearce
Date of Birth/Where: 23/7/1975
Test Match Appearances: 2
2011 Appearances: 7
Test Debut: 12th June, 2009 (Tonga v Fiji)
Super Rugby Debut: 2008
The least-experienced of the Australian Referee’s contingent in Super Rugby and on the Test match stage, Nathan Pearce first took control of a Super Rugby match in 2008 and managed another four across the next two seasons. 2011 has seen Pearce back in the middle at Super-level, with the 36-year-old also expected to return to the Shute Shield competition in Sydney – where he originally made a name for himself in the Club Rugby ranks.
Ian Smith
Date of Birth/Where: 1/2/1979, Brisbane
Test Match Appearances: 1
2011 Appearances: 4
Test Debut: 2008 (Samoa v Tonga)
Super Rugby Debut: 2008
Ian Smith played rugby for eight years at high school, and started refereeing to stay involved with the game he loves. Ian’s decision to become a referee was influenced by a want to contribute to community rugby, get out of the office and watch the game from the best seat in the house.
Andrew Lees
Date of Birth/Where: 7/7/1979, Canberra
IRB 7’s Tournament Appearances: 15
2011 Appearances: 5
Super Rugby Assistant-Referee Appearances: 9
Andrew Lees recently refereed the final of the 7’s tournament in Adelaide, he has also refereed finals in Wellington and Hong Kong, and the 2009 Rugby Sevens World Cup in Dubai. Andrew started refereeing in 1996 in Canberra, when his dad asked him if he would like to try it and has since moved up both the domestic and international refereeing ranks.