Matt O'Brien

This article is about Australian rugby union referee. For author, journalist and college instructor, see Matthew O'Brien. For the New Zealand cricketer, see Matt O'Brien (cricketer).

Matt O'Brien
Date of birth (1981-07-22) 22 July 1981 (age 43)
Place of birthSouthland, New Zealand
Rugby union career
Refereeing career
Years Competition Apps
2011–2014 IRB Sevens World Series
2014 IRB Junior World Cup
2014–2015 Super Rugby 2
Correct as of 1 February 2015

Matt O'Brien (born 22 July 1981) is a New Zealand-born Australian professional rugby union referee. He has officiated on the IRB Sevens World Series circuit since 2011 and was appointed to the Super Rugby referees panel for 2014 and 2015.

Family and early life

O'Brien was born in Southland, New Zealand and is the son of former international rugby referee Paddy O'Brien. He studied pharmacy at the University of Otago where he played as a winger on the University's rugby team in the early 2000s, before he moved to the Gold Coast in Australia and established a pharmacy business.[1][2]

Refereeing

After retiring from playing in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition for the Gold Coast Breakers, O'Brien took up rugby refereeing in 2008. He was appointed to the IRB Sevens World Series in 2011, and was the referee in three finals matches.[2] He was named as one of 16 referees on the SANZAR referee panel for the 2014 season,[3][4] and refereed his first match in Super Rugby between the Chiefs and Rebels in April that year.[1] He also refereed at the IRB Junior World Championship in 2014.[5]

O'Brien refereed the 2016 Wellington Sevens Cup final between New Zealand and South Africa that was won by New Zealand.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Hepburn, Steve (12 April 2014). "Rugby: Talented referee O'Brien to make Super 15 debut". SA Rugby Referees. Archived from the original on 22 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  2. ^ a b "Matt O'Brien". Australian Rugby. Archived from the original on 22 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  3. ^ "Matt O'Brien elevated to elite Super Rugby referee squad". Australian Rugby. 1 November 2013. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  4. ^ "Matt O'Brien joins SANZAR Referee Panel for 2014". Australian Rugby. 31 October 2013. Archived from the original on 22 September 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  5. ^ "Gardner and O'Brien appointed to IRB 2014 JWC Fixtures". Australian Rugby. 13 June 2014. Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2014.
  6. ^ "NZ steal it at the death". iAfrica. 31 January 2016. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.


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