In Leaders Getting Coffee episode 33, our guest is Australian rugby referee Angus Gardner.

When a back injury forced a young Angus Gardner to give up contact sports at the age of 15, he thought his involvement in the game he loved was at an end. But thanks to a dedicated school teacher who suggested he take up refereeing as a way to stay involved in the sport, that injury created a pathway that would see him become one of the world’s leading rugby referees.

Angus Gardner is Australia’s leading rugby referee having officiated in 49 test matches and 118 super rugby matches. Those matches include the 2018 Super Rugby final between the Crusaders and the Lions, the same year in which he received the World Rugby Referee of the year award, and the semi-final at the 2023 Rugby World Cup between New Zealand and Argentina.

With a Bachelors of Property Economics, with honours, under his arm, his career started in property development while he balanced a flourishing refereeing career throughout his twenties and early thirties. But the opportunity to become a full time professional in 2015 enabled him to pursue his passion and he has been a full time presence on the global rugby calendar ever since.

Angus talks to Bruce Cotterill on the Leaders Getting Coffee podcast about the game he loves and his view from the centre of the action. He talks openly about rugby’s hefty rule book, how long advantage should be played, and the lengthy post-match review that all participating officials go through after every game. And he discusses the memorable players, coaches and teams he’s had the pleasure to work with.

Angus Gardner also talks about the challenges for a dedicated family man, who is sometimes traveling for one hundred nights in a single year, and the team behind this one man band that keeps his mind and body on the road.

And this passionate Australian has a unique answer to what he would do if he was the Prime Minister of that sports mad country for a day.

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