Referee Hugh Watkins hired to raise officiating standards in Hong Kong
Former Rugby World Cup referee Hugh Watkins has been hired to help boost the standard of refereeing in Hong Kong, a year after a comment he made on Twitter about last year’s Hong Kong Sevens Cup final brought his career to an end.
Former Rugby World Cup referee Hugh Watkins has been hired to help boost the standard of refereeing in Hong Kong, a year after a comment he made on Twitter about last year’s Hong Kong Sevens Cup final brought his career to an end.
Watkins was banned for 12 weeks by the Welsh Rugby Union for criticising South African referee Marius van der Westhuizen’s decision not to award a red card to Fijian Ilai Tinai for a tip-tackle on Wales player Lee Williams in last year's final.
“Sorry, that’s a shocker. Had to be red no other option. We need referees to be consistent in this”, Watkins tweeted after the incident. Tinai received a yellow card.
We’re very pleased to have secured the services of Hugh who was an all-round outstanding candidate
Watkins said he was “very disappointed with how it had been handled” and pre-empted the WRU’s decision by resigning, ending 20 years of officiating.
Watkins, 50, was yesterday appointed national referee development manager by the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union after consultation with the Hong Kong Society for Rugby Football Union Referees.
Watkins took to Twitter again yesterday to say he was “really looking forward to the role”.
He has spent the past eight years as a professional referee in Wales and was involved in the 2007 World Cup and two Heineken Cup finals.
“Having been to Hong Kong for the Sevens as part of the referee panel, I realise how important rugby is here,” Watkins said. “The standard of officiating is something I need to assess when I take up my role.