Taranaki ref nominated at NZ Rugby Awards

Taranaki rugby referee Paul Williams is one of three referees nominated for the Referee of the Year Award at New Zealand Rugby’s prestigious event.

Williams has had a successful year controlling three pool matches at the Rugby World Cup in Japan. He refereed England v Tonga, Fiji v Georgia and Argentina v USA. He would have controlled the Uruguay v Canada match, but it was called off due to Typhoon Hagibis.

However, he was one of the sub controllers for the finale and an assistant referee for a handful of matches too.

The 34-year-old from Whenuakura, between Patea and Waverly in South Taranaki, has also controlled Six Nations matches and other internationals on top of refereeing in the Super Rugby and Mitre 10 Cup competitions, accumulating air points along the way.

Williams also won the Sport Taranaki Official of the Year Award in November's edition of the local awards at the Devon Hotel. 

Along with Williams, Ben O’Keeffe and Rebecca Mahoney have also been nominated for the top award.

O’Keeffe also attended the Rugby World Cup and was an assistant referee for the final.

Mahoney made history this year by being the first female to referee.

Taranaki has a large representation as nominees. Beauden Barrett has been nominated for the All Blacks Player of the Year, Taranaki lock Tupou Vaa’i is up for an award as the New Zealand Rugby Age Grade Player of the Year, Scott Barrett for Super Rugby Player of the Year and New Plymouth Old Boys’ Sue Mitchel has been nominated in the Volunteer of the Year Award.  

The award will be announced at the ASB New Zealand Rugby Awards in Auckland on Thursday December 12.