Rugby: Taranaki produces more first-class referees

Taranaki continues its reputation of producing first-class rugby referees.  

Former New Zealand and England sevens representative turn referee Warwick Lahmert and past Taranaki Whio Chloe Sampson are set to make their first-class debuts as referees during the upcoming Heartland Championship and Farah Palmer Cup competitions.  

While Sampson made her official first-class debut in the World Rugby Challenger Series sevens tournament in Dubai earlier this year, she will become the region’s 94th fifteens domestic referee and Taranaki’s maiden female to achieve the honour.  

She will control Waikato v Bay of Plenty in the opening round of the Farah Palmer Cup on August 10 and has been appointed to other matches within the first few weeks of the competition.   

“I’m super excited to be able to make my first-class debut in the fifteens side of things,” she said. “I’m proud of how far I have come since deciding to stop playing at the end of the 2022 season with sneaking in a few games in 2023.”  

She said she’s had a lot of support, which has been a “massive help to get me where I am now.”  

It’s been a busy season for Sampson already. She was an assistant referee for selected women’s internationals this year and during the Super Rugby Aupiki competition and made her premier club debut in June.  

Lahmert has made a rapid rise in refereeing and was recently announced as the province’s number-one-ranked referee in just his second official year with the whistle. He will also make his debut in the Farah Palmer Cup on August 24 in Whakatane and will control a Heartland match in Taupo on September 14. He will become Taranaki’s 95th first-class referee.  

Lahmert said the best thing about refereeing is giving back to the game that’s done so much for him. 

“Right now, I’m just taking it all in,” he said. “I’m bloody stoked to be part of the upcoming games; I’m looking forward to being out in the middle; it's the closest you can be without playing.” 

He said he’s also enjoying being part of the local association that “cares so much for the game.”  

Refereeing shares similarities to playing by traveling and meeting new people, he said, and is supported by his partner, Anna, and three boys.  

The pair are two of five Taranaki referees involved in internationals and New Zealand Rugby’s domestic competitions.  

Paul Williams refereed Samoa’s win against Italy this month. While the Rugby Championship appointments are yet to be released, he’s likely to take a role as assistant referee or referee.  

Richard Kelly, a former sevens international referee, now takes his place in the television match official (TMO) booth and will make his international debut as a TMO in the Australia v Georgia game on July 20 after a strong Super Rugby season.  

Will Johnston, who controlled Saturday’s premier club final, has been appointed to Heartland matches in Whanganui and Masterton during the earlier stages of the competition.