"NOTHING SHORT OF EXCEPTIONAL"

David Matthews pays tribute to a major contributor to refereeing

On April 13th, too late for the end of 2015-2016 season notes came news that Colin High aged 74, who did just about everything that could be done in refereeing, had died. Far from providing a depressing opening to a new series of Whistleblowers a celebration of his life should provide an inspirational start to the 2016-17 season.

He became an International Panel Referee, Assessor at this level, was the first RFU National Referee Manager in 1997 and took charge of the Elite Referee Unit from 2001 until retirement in 2008. After this he worked with the Scottish Rugby Union on a part-time basis as a high performance referee coach which involved their leading referees. Recognition for this unique all round contribution came with the presentation, in 2010, of a Referee Award for Distinguished Service from the IRB, now World Rugby, described as "nothing short of exceptional."

Colin began his refereeing, having played for Vickers (shipbuilders), where he worked as a draughtsman, by joining the Cumbria Referees Society then later transferred to Manchester. This necessitated considerable travel, especially as he made his way to the top. Amongst the landmarks when he finally reached the summit were appointments to France v Wales, Wales v USA in 1987 and New Zealand v Scotland in 1990. There was still time to serve as an IRB assessor from 1996 to 2006, a period in which he helped in the development of any number of referees from other nations, having worked so successfully with aspiring referees in this country.

The reference to "being a character" is often misused but in Colin's case it was exactly right; he could always be relied on for plain speaking, you didn't always know what was coming next and there were some classics. He was tremendous company; I had the pleasure of twice travelling with him to the Monte Carlo Sevens in Monaco. Walking to the Gala Dinner on one of these occasions and noting the crowds behind the barriers awaiting the arrival of Prince Albert, he wryly observed "peasants, let them eat cake." His 'surprise' retirement presentation following a Premiership final at Twickenham encouraged him to relate how plans like this didn't always work; he quoted a legendary 'This is Your Life' TV programme from many years ago when the reply from footballer Danny Blanchflower to presenter Eamonn Andrews' greeting " This is your life" was "it's ....ing not" before walking off. Happily (though it was obviously in his mind!), there was no dramatic exit from Colin.

I vividly remember when Colin came off the International panel, in not entirely convincing circumstances; his immediate response was to referee a match between Windermere and Upper Eden, with the comment "back to basics." This was typical of his genuine love for rugby, a passion which he was able to communicate to all those who were privileged to work with him, notably in 1995 when the game became professional.

Predictably, there was a crowded church for the funeral service in Barrow, including a huge turn out from the Cumbrian clubs (he represented the County on the RFU Council from 1996 to 1997) and a real who's who of former International referees. As his memory fortifies us for the new campaign our thoughts are with his wife Cora, son Stephen, daughter Julia and his close family.

22Aug16