The Star: December 13, 2018

The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
Thursday December 13 2018 43
Sport
Nutbrown takes coaching role at Belfast
• By Gordon Findlater
SUPER RUGBY player-comereferee
Jamie Nutbrown will add
another notch to his belt next
year when he starts a new role as
an assistant coach at Belfast.
When the metro rugby season
kicks off in April, Nutbrown
– who is a current national
referee squad member – will mix
reffing with his new role as a
backs coach at the club he began
playing for as a five-year-old.
The 37-year-old is not sure
whether he will pursue coaching
long-term, but is looking forward
to the challenge with Belfast.
“My main drive is to stay
involved really,” said Nutbrown.
“It possibly could be
something that I could do more
of if I enjoy it . . . but I still
enjoy the refereeing and being
involved, actually running
around on the field.”
Nutbrown won’t be on-hand
during match days for Belfast
due to his referee commitments.
Next year he will move to
North Canterbury where he
will referee the combined
country and North Canterbury
competitions. It will mean less
travel for Nutbrown, who lives
in Swannanoa, and no conflict
of interests with his Belfast team
competing in the premier metro
competition.
The former halfback cracked
the Canterbury NPC team in the
early 2000s before going on to
play 15 games for the Crusaders.
However, he spent the majority
of his playing time in New
Zealand with Bay of Plenty and
the Chiefs, before a move to
Welsh club Ospreys.
Nutbrown started refereeing in
2014 and has gone on to referee
regularly at provincial level.
He also runs the touchline
in Super Rugby games. His
experience and skill as one of the
county’s top referees is likely to
translate into coaching.
“Thinking like a referee and
knowing the main things they’re
looking at is something that
could help out. I’ve done that
during pre-seasons in previous
years and just pointed out to
guys what we’re looking for
and worked around any law
changes,” said Nutbrown.
He admits next year will be a
challenge committing to both
FULL CIRCLE: Jamie
Nutbrown has excelled
as a player and a referee,
now he will try his hand at
coaching.
coaching and reffing, but he
plans to finish up his provincial
duties at the end of 2019.
As to whether he rates his
playing or reffing skills higher,
he said “it depends who you ask.”
“I’d probably say a better
player because I spent a lot
more time playing than reffing.
It’s a bit harder to judge with
refereeing. If one coach thinks
you had a great game, there’s a
good chance the other one won’t
think so.”
2019 metro premier rugby
coaches
•Sumner: Martin Dodgson.
Assistants: Chris King,
Marshall Suckling.
•New Brighton: Scott
Pawson. Assistants: Marcel
Cummings-Toone, Ross
Martin, Logan Surridge,
•Sydenham: Sid Tauamiti.
Assistants: Robbie Fruean,
Andy Stead.
•Marist Albion: Simon Scott.
Assistants: Ben Blair, Tom
Wallis.
•Belfast: Jock Stanley.
Assistants: Mpho Mbiyozo,
Jamie Nutbrown.
•High School Old Boys:
Jimmy Hemma. Assistants:
Mark Davison, Peri Marks.
•University: Sam Lindsay.
Assistants: TBC.
•Lincoln University: Alex
Robertson. Assistant: Craig
Dunlea
•Burnside: Bevan Sisson.
Assistants: Paul Burton,
Graeme Turner.
•Linwood: Sam Jack.
Assistants: Richard Norton,
Takerei Norton.
•Shirley: Deane Lutton.
Assistants: Hayden Mitchell.
•Christchurch: Chris England.
Assistants: Kieran Kite, Nick
Martin, Steve Alfeld.
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