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Glen Jackson hangs up his whistle after 25-year rugby career
By Online Editors
Former golden boot turned New Zealand professional referee, Glen Jackson has today announced he is hanging up the whistle, and retiring from professional refereeing after an on-field career that has spanned 25 years.
The five-time New Zealand Referee of the Year was the first Kiwi to both play and referee 100 first class fixtures.
A former Maori All Black, and Chiefs first five-eighth, Jackson began his rugby career in his home province of Bay of Plenty, he went on to play 60 matches for the Chiefs in Investec Super Rugby before venturing north and making 159 appearances for Saracens in the Guinness Premiership. During his successful career abroad, Jackson won the coveted Golden Boot award for most points scored in the premiership in 2006/07.
After retiring from playing rugby in 2010 he returned to New Zealand where he continued his transition into refereeing. He debuted with the whistle in New Zealand at a Heartland Championship fixture in 2010 and climbed the ranks quickly, officiating his first Super Rugby match in 2011. His first taste of international rugby refereeing was in 2012 when he took charge of the England v Fiji match at Twickenham in London. Jackson’s career includes refereeing 32 Test matches, 88 Investec Super Rugby matches and 60 Mitre 10 Cup matches, including eight Ranfurly Shield fixtures.
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Jackson, who has been involved in some coaching with the Bay of Plenty Union, said he hopes to continue his involvement in rugby after he steps back from refereeing in March.
“I feel extremely privileged to have worked as a professional referee for New Zealand Rugby over the last 10 years but I feel the time is right to finish and move onto something different but hopefully still be involved with rugby.
“I would like to thank Lyndon Bray and Bryce Lawrence for everything they have done for me and their support in making this decision. I think New Zealand refereeing is in a positive space with great leaders and fantastic young referees who I will miss working with,” said Jackson.
New Zealand Rugby National Referee Manager Bryce Lawrence said Jackson leaves a legacy as one of New Zealand’s best.
“Glen changed the shape of refereeing in our country when he became the first top class player to become a professional referee through the player scholarship system. Glen brought rugby nous to refereeing, strong relationships with players and coaches both domestically and internationally, and he added so much to our referee team culture by being a great team man.
“Glen has had a fantastic career in rugby, after 25 years at the top level it is time for his wife Fiona and children Payton and Ella to have more time together and I thank his family for their amazing support which has allowed Glen to travel internationally and referee on the biggest stages,” said Lawrence.
Jackson will travel to South Africa this weekend to attend a SANZAAR referee camp and will continue to support the New Zealand refereeing group through to the end of March.
- New Zealand Rugby
Former All Blacks Aaron Cruden has put all his focus into the upcoming Super Rugby season - but that doesn't mean higher honours have been completely ruled out:
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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