This week we’re joined by Shinoa Nikora, one of our Eastern Bay of Plenty referees who has stepped up at exactly the right time, in a part of the province where referee numbers are tight and the work is constant.

Shinoa shares her journey from associate refereeing into the middle, why she picked up the whistle to help address the shortage, and what it’s been like combining refereeing with playing and coaching, including how that mix has sharpened her understanding of the game and the laws. [bop-refere...-

Quick note (and an apology): you’ll notice Sean is sideways on camera this week. We had a technical mishap during recording, and unfortunately the video orientation issue couldn’t be recovered in editing. Our apologies, we promise Sean is upright in real life.

• Weekend recap: one red card to process (again), Sam’s match at Judea (and the unfortunate club shed/container break-in), and Shinoa’s weekend supporting on the sideline and keeping connected to the game.
• Education recap: Western Bay session one of the Scrum Technical Pillar, focusing on safety, stability, body shape and building a clear picture of what a good scrum looks like.
• Referee news: Aimee Barrett‑Theron’s milestone as the most‑capped female referee, and the NBA’s continued crackdown on public criticism of officials after a US$50,000 fine.
• Whistler of the Week: John “Spooks” Kilkelly, for a massive stretch of being available across multiple days (even when teams didn’t front), plus backing it up with multiple appointments across grades.
• Week ahead: Baywide Round 6, women’s, juniors and schools in full swing, plus the upcoming interchange weekend with visiting referees and a social catch-up.

Hosts: Sam Fellows, Sean Curragh, Jamie Bell
Guest: Shinoa Nikora

#RugbyReferees #MatchOfficials #RugbyUnion #BayOfPlentyRugby #RefereeDevelopment #WahineInRugby

Shinoa Nikora, Eastern Bay of Plenty referees, referee shortage, rugby referee pathway, scrum refereeing, NZ Rugby scrum, women in rugby officiating, Baywide rugby, BOP referees podcast, Aimee Barrett-Theron, referee respect, Whistler of the Week.

This week we’re joined by Estelle Whaiapu, a Bay of Plenty match official and World Rugby Television Match Official (TMO), previously recognised by us as a Whistler of the Week and a key contributor within our Referee Management Group, including leading strategy development for the club.

Estelle takes us inside the world of high-performance officiating and what it’s really like being a TMO and Foul Play Review Officer (FPRO) at top level, from how the refereeing team prepares, to the discipline of only speaking when you have video evidence, to building connection and trust so the on-field team can make fast, calm decisions under pressure.

We also recap the week in Bay of Plenty refereeing:

• weekend reflections (including more red cards and a citing), plus a Baywide rundown of what’s happening around the traps;
• a strong Baywide education night with Broncos, connection activities, and a review of tackle/ruck/maul pillars;
• referee news including Sanix updates and a Rotorua Boys’ result, and discussion on World Rugby’s trial of a slightly smaller ball for women’s competitions;
• and we name this week’s Whistler of the Week: Elias Owen, stepping up to referee his first Super 8 match during the school day.

We finish with a look ahead to a busy week of appointments across Baywide rugby, upcoming education sessions (including scrum focus), and the continued push to bring more people into refereeing through associate referee courses and school programmes.

Hosts: Sam Fellows, Jamie Bell, Sean Curragh
Guest: Estelle Whaiapu

#RugbyReferees #MatchOfficials #RugbyUnion #TMO #BayOfPlentyRugby #RefereeDevelopment

This week we’re joined by Kirk Vosper, a Bay of Plenty-based referee in his fourth year on the whistle (second as a registered ref), working across junior and secondary school rugby and now getting regular exposure on premier sidelines.

We debrief the weekend’s rugby, including:

a premier match red card that became a talking point, and how the 20-minute red card can affect game flow and spectacle; a practical law discussion on deliberate knock-on vs genuine interception attempt, and why the modern threshold focuses on the “slap-down”/kill-the-ball action; updates from around the club, including the wahine introduction to refereeing session led by Maggie Cogger-Orr, Tiana Anderson and Estelle Whaiapu; and a look at referee news beyond rugby, including FIFA’s World Cup approach to mouth-covering during confrontations and the NBA’s fines for conduct toward officials.

Quickfire with Kirk: how he got into refereeing (including a talk that sparked the interest and then an AR call-up), his highlights (AIMS Games, meeting dignitaries at finals week, and unique tournament formats), and how he balances refereeing with business and community work through his Vosper companies, including a bucket-list platform he’s building (Buckil) and the motivation that comes from setting goals.

Whistler of the Week: the Tauranga Boys’ College Referee Academy, recognising young officials getting their first games with strong coaching support and school backing.

We finish with a preview of a huge week ahead, Baywide round four, women’s competitions starting, junior and school rugby ramping up, plus a reminder to keep availability updated and details for the upcoming Baywide education session (including Broncos chat).

Hosts: Sam Fellows, Jamie Bell, Sean Curragh

Guest: Kirk Vosper

Contact jamie.bell@boprugby.co.nz

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