Former Springbok scrumhalf Rudy Paige says his first game as a touch judge has fuelled his desire to become a professional referee.
Paige got his first taste of officiating when he served as an assistant during a friendly match between the UCT Ikey Tigers and Boland in Cape Town last Saturday.
In an interview with Sunday newspaper Rapport, the 13-Test Bok opened up on his desire to blow the whistle.
“I always said I’d like to ref one day. I want to give something back to the game as a referee,” Paige told Rapport. “It’s completely different from playing, but after the first ten minutes of the game it started to get better.”
Paige, 34, retired from playing rugby at the end of 2022, after a career that saw him run out for the Lions, Bulls and Sunwolves.
He is aiming to follow in the footsteps of Aimee Barrett-Theron and Egon Seconds, two former players who have become successful referees.
“I hope the fact that I have played, especially at scrumhalf, can help me blow and give me a good understanding of the game,” Paige said. “I am under no illusion that it will be easy. Being a referee is one of the hardest jobs in rugby.
“Because I played, it might be a little easier. But I still have a lot to learn. I’m not saying I’m going to become an excellent referee, but I’d like to do it.”
Photo: Twitter/@paige_rudy
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
