This week on the Bay of Plenty Referee Podcast, we’re joined by Tiana Ngawati-Anderson, one of Bay of Plenty’s leading match officials, now established on the international pathway in both sevens and fifteens. Tiana reflects on her refereeing journey, the significance of being named on the 2026 HSBC SVNS women’s panel, her international XVs appointments, and what it has taken to return to the whistle after a challenging period with her health.

We also recap the weekend’s rugby around the Bay, including a tight Super 8 clash between Tauranga Boys’ and Rotorua Boys’, Sean’s fast-paced Premier game at Greerton, Sam’s trip out to Te Teko v Ruatoki, and Tiana’s own return to the middle before backing it up as an AR. We also revisit the scrum themes from this week’s education sessions and look ahead to the next round of Baywide rugby and the Baywide social night in Rotorua.

Whistler of the Week: Tiana Ngawati-Anderson, after a strong return to the whistle and backing it up across the weekend.

Relevant links:

• World Rugby Junior World Championship appointments: https://www.rugbyworldcup.com/news/1044169/match-official-panel-confirmed-for-world-rugby-junior-world-championship-2026

• Great American Scrum Championship: https://www.majorleague.rugby/the-great-american-scrum-championship

• Bay of Plenty Rugby merch store: https://boprugbymerch.co.nz/

• World Rugby Strategic Plan: https://www.world.rugby/organisation/strategic-plan

• World Rugby law clarifications: https://passport.world.rugby/laws-of-the-game/law-application-guidelines/

Hosts: Sam Fellows, Sean Curragh, Jamie Bell

Guest: Tiana Ngawati-Anderson

This week on the Bay of Plenty Referee Podcast, we’re joined by Elias Owen, one of our emerging Bay of Plenty referees who has had a big few weeks, including refereeing his first Super 8 match during the school day, earning Whistler of the Week, and being promoted to Panel 4 in our latest mid-season promotions.

Elias takes us through how he got into refereeing, what the Super 8 appointment was like, and a brilliant yarn from his recent Auckland interchange weekend, including rugby, referees, Eden Park, and a few stories that probably belonged off-air but made it on anyway.

We also recap the weekend’s rugby around the Bay:

- close Colts and Premier contests,

- a draw between Greerton and Mount,

- Elias’ game at Taneatua,

- and the latest on discipline from around the grounds.

On the education front, we revisit the Scrum Management Pillar, setting standards in the front-row chat, using clear escalation, and understanding what a good scrum picture actually looks like.

We also cover this week’s referee and rugby news:

- World Rugby’s new 2026–31 strategic plan

- Daniel Lienert-Brown’s four-week suspension

Whistler of the Week goes to Malakai Liuaki after a huge few days of stepping up in Eastern Bay rugby.

News article links:

World Rugby Strategic Plan:

https://www.world.rugby/organisation/strategic-plan

Daniel Lienert-Brown suspension:

https://super.rugby/superrugby/news/lienert-brown-handed-four-week-suspension/

Hosts: Sam Fellows, Sean Curragh, Jamie Bell

Guest: Elias Owen

This week on the Bay of Plenty Referee Podcast, we’re joined by James Grieve from Auckland after a full interchange weekend in the Bay.

James took the whistle in the middle and then backed it up as an AR afterwards, so we chat about interchange weekends, what referees can learn from seeing a different province operate, and the value of getting outside your usual environment. We also get James’ perspective on refereeing in Auckland across club and school rugby, what’s working well, and what officials are seeing week to week.

We also round up a busy week of rugby and referee news, including:

- New Zealand Rugby and Touch NZ formally joining forces to recognise touch as the official non-contact summer form of rugby in Aotearoa

- South African prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye receiving an 18-month anti-doping ban

- Eddie Jones being suspended and docked pay after abusing match officials

- World Rugby’s new maul law application guideline coming into effect from 1 June

- The launch of Ultimate Sevens, a new global short-format sevens competition

News links:

Touch NZ / NZ Rugby partnership:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/595630/nz-rugby-and-touch-nz-join-forces-in-bid-to-increase-player-numbers

Asenathi Ntlabakanye ban:

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/595283/asenathi-ntlabakanye-banned-for-18-months-and-is-set-to-miss-the-rugby-world-cup

Eddie Jones sanctioned for abusing officials:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/360978553/eddie-jones-banned-japan-and-given-pay-cut-after-abusing

World Rugby maul guideline:

https://passport.world.rugby/laws-of-the-game/law-application-guidelines/maul-june-2026/

Ultimate Sevens:

https://ultimatesevens.com/

Thanks for listening. You can find the Bay of Plenty Referee Podcast on YouTube, Spotify and major podcast platforms.

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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This week we’re joined by Jaco Brouwer; originally from South Africa and marking 20 years since he started refereeing (first session at Ellis Park… which is now a pub, so technically he began his career in a pub).

Jaco shares highlights from a two‑decade whistle journey, including officiating in Sri Lanka on the Bradby Shield (two‑leg aggregate format) in front of 10,000–12,000 with brass bands humming all game, plus what those environments teach you about composure and communication.

We also unpack a busy local weekend: three red cards, line‑marking issues at a couple of venues, and how the club is responding with clearer comms and processes.

Education recap: the management pillar for tackle/ruck/maul, escalation tools, proactive comms, informal vs formal chats, warnings and sanctions, and what makes an effective referee message (timing, clarity, and brevity).

Referee news: Erin Doherty’s test referee milestone, Holly Davidson’s Top 14 first, plus shout‑outs to Estelle (Women’s Six Nations TMO) and Nick (Hong Kong 7s).

Whistler of the Week: Estelle Whaiapu.
Presenters: Sam Fellows, Jamie Bell, Sean Curragh. Guest: Jaco Brouwer.

This week we’re joined by Dakota Collier, who has been everywhere over summer, sevens tournaments, AIMS Games, and even stepping into senior men’s rugby while still at high school. We chat about what that jump feels like, how respect changes once you’re in the middle, and what he’s learning from tournament rugby and high‑tempo games.

We recap a busy opening weekend across the Baywide comps (Premier, Development, Colts, Western Bay seniors, plus Central/Eastern reserves), and reflect on match official pathways — including Dakota’s first Super Rugby “hydration technician” (water carrier) experience at Moana Pasifika v Chiefs.

Education focus: moving from technical to tactical awareness in tackle/ruck/maul. Relevance and materiality of actions, dominance/pressure, positioning options, and why sometimes the best decision is a non‑decision.

Referee news: Estelle’s Women’s Six Nations debut at Twickenham and upcoming Cardiff appointment; plus a Super Rugby talking point on head contact and process.

Whistler of the Week: Phil Chandler (for bringing Dakota into the refereeing community).

Presenters: Sam Fellows, Jamie Bell, Sean Curragh. Guest: Dakota Collier.