Taizo in action. Photo: Ph. Da Costa/IRB.
24 JUNE 2006
By Willy Billiard
He may be Japan’s only professional referee, but Taizo Hirabayashi arrived in the Auvergne with a growing reputation as one of the Game’s up and coming match officials. The 31-year-old, with five years experience as a full-time referee behind him, was one of six match officials chosen to officiate at the IRB Under 21 World Championship.
After making a good impression during the tournament, the Japanese whistleblower will end the IRB Under 21 World Championship, refereeing New Zealand versus Australia in the 3rd/4th play-off match in front of a 13,000 capacity crowd at Clermont Ferrand’s Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin on Sunday afternoon – a match that ranks amongst the biggest of his career to date.
“It really is an honour to be here officiating at this tournament but it is also an enormous responsibility,” said Hirabayshi. On the pitch, in front of the best young players in the world, all the referees and linesman are being showcased in a major tournament. All their gestures and signals on the field are recognised by the Rugby family across the world as a universal language.
Of course Hirabayashi’s aim is to officiate to the best of his ability, but he also hopes to benefit from the experience of being involved in a major international rugby tournament.
“I receive so many phone calls from Hong Kong, China or Korea. They all hope I can bring a lot from this international tournament. Also a certain way of refereeing. For my part, I like to let the players think for themselves as often as I can and try to simplify the instructions on the pitch.”
At the beginning of my career I was nervous about officiating different nations and rugby cultures. Today, I appreciate the culture and passion that surrounds matches between different countries and the style of rugby that they play.
Taizo Hirabayashi, japanese referee.
A preparation duty
Despite the vast cultural differences between the participating nations, Hirabayashi is able to remain neutral for each match that he officiates even if sometimes this is not easy to achieve. “At the beginning of my career I was nervous about officiating different nations and rugby cultures. Today, though, I appreciate the culture and passion that surrounds matches between different countries and the style of rugby that they play. I always aim to prepare thoroughly for each match. For example for South Africa versus Georgia I studied the videos to gauge the style of each team. What is important above all else is always to be in a position to see clearly where the ball is.”
In front of a TV screen or outside, these days, top referees spend a lot of time preparing the encounters. They operate a fitness and conditioning campaign worthy of any professional athlete, undertaking numerous gym, pool, endurance and play simulation sessions. As while players can be replaced if they are tired, there is no question of the referee being replaced during a match for the same reason. Indeed mental and physical fitness is a sign of a referee on the top of his Game. For Taizo Hirabayashi, this requirement is indeed priceless.
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