Scotland vs Australia referee was an inside centre who loved playing
Today at 07:17 AM
The Scotland vs Australia referee has been reminding people that referee’s at heart love the sport as much as anyone.
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Before he was the man blowing the whistle for a deliberate knock-on or an offside at a ruck, Chris Busby was running hard from inside centre for Ballyclare RFC.
But the transition from school rugby to club rugby didn't come easy for Chris, and with a few unfortunate injuries along the way, his playing career took a hit.
"I wasn't playing with my mates on a Saturday anymore," he recalls. "I picked up a few injuries that didn't help, and there were a couple of years where I wasn't involved. So, it came down to either coaching or refereeing, and refereeing was the one that grabbed me."
Fast forward to 2024, and Chris is gearing up to referee Scotland vs Australia in what could be his biggest match yet. After serving as an assistant referee in high-profile clashes like Scotland vs England and Wales vs Italy, this Autumn's showdown is a whole new level.
While referees are no strangers to abuse, Chris has a way of keeping the noise at bay. "When I meet people out and about, it's great to just talk about rugby. People forget that referees love the game, too," he explains. "We're all passionate about rugby, but we just happen to be the ones with the whistle."
Chris continues, "In my experience, fans are generally respectful. There's always some banter and chat about decisions, but it's all in good spirit.
“The trouble starts when it moves onto social media, where things can get a lot harsher. I've managed to avoid the worst of it by staying away from social media, but I know the abuse is out there. The Whistleblowers documentary really shows how some referees have been deeply affected by it—and it's not just the refs, it impacts their families too."
22–24 Nov 2024
France v Argentina
Referee: Luke Pearce (Eng)
ARs: Andrea Piardi (Ita) & Morné Ferreira (Sco)
TMO: Ian Tempest (Eng)
Wales v South Africa
Referee: Karl Dickson (Eng)
ARs: Christophe Ridley (Eng) & Damian Schneider (Arg)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (Eng)
Italy v New Zealand
Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
ARs: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Ludovic Cayre (Fra)
TMO: Tual Trainini (Fra)
Ireland v Fiji
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Sco)
ARs: Matt Carley (Eng) & Sam Grove White (Sco)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Sco)
Spain v USA
Referee: Saba Abulashvili (Geo)
ARs: Kevin Bralley (Fra) & Evan Urruzmendi (Fra)
TMO: Tom Spurrier (Wal)
Romania v Uruguay
Referee: Adam Leal (Eng)
ARs: TBC & TBC
TMO: Adam Jones (Wal)
Scotland A v Chile
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
ARs: Federico Vedovelli (Ita) & TBC
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)
Georgia v Tonga
Referee: Luc Ramos (Fra)
ARs: Jerremy Rozier (Fra) & Aimee Barrett-Theron (SA)
TMO: Tom Foley (Eng)
England vs Japan referee
Referee: Craig Evans (Wal)
ARs: Andrea Piardi (Ita) & Morné Ferreira (Sco)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ire)
Scotland vs Australia referee
Referee: Chris Busby (Ire)
ARs: Andrew Brace (Ire) & Eoghan Cross (Ire)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wal)
EDITORS PICKS:
- Eddie Jones' Health Update: What's the Latest Ahead of England's Big Match on Sunday?
- "How is this not a RED CARD?" – Female referee brutally taken out from behind by Fiji star
- Seven Ex-England Players Call Out Eddie Jones, And It's Brutal
- Report: Another England coach could be set for an early departure
Can you name Wales’ XV from their 2012 Grand Slam?
Test your rugby knowledge with this challenge! Can you name the starting XV from Wales’ unforgettable 2012 Grand Slam victory?
You've got three minutes on the clock—think fast and see how many players you can recall from that iconic team!
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