Bay of Plenty Referees Podcast
Claim This Podcastby Bay of Plenty Referees
Podcast Overview
<p>Bay of Plenty Referees Podcast is your weekly, local look at rugby refereeing in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. We wrap education session takeaways, appointments and match official news, plus a quick‑fire chats with BoP referees from club footy and sevens to women’s rugby, NPC and Super Rugby. Expect clear law clarifications, refereeing tips and game management insights with a bit of club banter. New episodes weekly in season. Watch on YouTube @BOPRUReferees. Contact: @BOPRugbyReferees on FB @boprureferees on Instagram.</p>
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
3/19/2026
3 verified contact emails on file for Bay of Plenty Referees Podcast
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
July 2, 2026
The Host Becomes the Guest – Sam Fellows on 22 Years of Refereeing (Ep 16)
<p>This week on the <b>Bay of Plenty Referees Podcast</b>, we turn the tables as regular host <b>Sam Fellows</b> steps into the guest chair.</p><p></p><p>Sam reflects on more than <b>22 years of refereeing</b>, including over <b>125 Bay of Plenty Premier matches</b>, his journey through representative and Heartland rugby, and some of the moments that have shaped his career both on and off the field.</p><p></p><p>We also cover:</p><p>🏉 A busy weekend of local rugby, including post-match drama and disciplinary issues</p><p>🏉 Recap of the latest referee education sessions and a reminder that World Rugby Law Exam attempts have now reset for the second half of the year</p><p>🏉 The 2026 <b>Tāi Mitchell Tournament</b> in Ōpōtiki and opportunities for young referees to develop in a tournament environment</p><p>🏉 New World Rugby law changes now in effect from 1 July</p><p>🏉 International referee appointments for the July test window, including Luke Pearce taking charge of the All Blacks v France Test</p><p>🏉 Michael Collins appointed as New Zealand Rugby's new Chief Rugby Officer</p><p>🏉 Changes announced for the future format of <b>Super Rugby Pacific</b></p><p>🏉 Indian Premier League success for former podcast guest <b>Nick Hogan</b></p><p>🏉 Whistler of the Week honours for <b>Ben Rickard</b>, who backed up a school final with a senior appointment on the same day</p><p></p><p>In the interview section, Sam discusses:</p><p>✅ His most memorable Premier matches<br />✅ Refereeing overseas in Fiji, Samoa, Japan, Canada, Mexico, the USA and Sri Lanka<br />✅ His time on the Bay of Plenty Rugby Board and Referee Management Group<br />✅ The best Premier club after-match feed in the Bay (a controversial topic!)<br />✅ Why refereeing is one of the best pathways for developing leadership, communication and decision-making skills</p><p></p><p>Whether you're a referee, coach, player or supporter, this episode is packed with stories, insights and a few laughs along the way.</p><p></p><p>🎧 Available on Spotify, YouTube and all major podcast platforms.</p><p>#BayOfPlentyReferees #RugbyReferee #CommunityRugby #BOPRugby #WorldRugby #RefereeDevelopment #GrassrootsRugby #HeartlandRugby #SuperRugbyPacific #Podcast</p>
June 26, 2026
Building the Bay’s Referee Culture with RMG Chair David Hodgson (Ep 15)
<p>This week on the <b>Bay of Plenty Referee Podcast</b>, Sam and Jamie are joined by <b>David Hodgson</b>, Chair of the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union Referee Management Group.</p><p></p><p>David has been involved in Bay of Plenty refereeing since 2004 and has chaired the RMG since 2015. In this episode, he talks about why he first picked up the whistle, his highlights from more than two decades in the game, and what really happens behind the scenes to keep refereeing running across a large and diverse region. He also shares his reflections on referee culture, the importance of club connections, developing young officials, and why the Bay continues to be held in high regard across the wider refereeing community.</p><p></p><p>Sam and Jamie also recap a big weekend across the Bay, including multiple referees backing up across several games, the latest education session on the tactical side of lineouts, and the ongoing need to support new referees without throwing them in too deep too soon. The team also covers World Rugby’s approval of the lower legal tackle height in community rugby, Georgia U20’s historic win over New Zealand U20, Taranaki’s recent referee recruitment and storytelling work, and details for the upcoming Bay of Plenty Rugby Referee Awards evening.</p><p></p><p>The episode finishes with <b>Whistler of the Week</b>, awarded to <b>Dan Rolls</b> for a massive weekend of service across Friday, Saturday and Sunday, including picking up an extra flag when needed.</p><h3>Rugby and referee news mentioned</h3><ul><li>World Rugby: <b>Lower legal tackle height approved for community rugby</b><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.world.rugby/news/996977" target="_blank">https://www.world.rugby/news/996977</a></li><li>World Rugby: <b>Lower tackle height trial extended to the World Rugby U20 Championship 2026</b><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.world.rugby/news/1019790/lower-tackle-height-trial-extended-to-world-rugby-u20-championship-2026" target="_blank">https://www.world.rugby/news/1019790/lower-tackle-height-trial-extended-to-world-rugby-u20-championship-2026</a></li><li>RugbyPass: <b>Georgia U20 defeat New Zealand U20 22–19</b><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.rugbypass.com/news/georgia-make-rugby-history-at-expense-of-giants-of-the-sport/" target="_blank">https://www.rugbypass.com/news/georgia-make-rugby-history-at-expense-of-giants-of-the-sport/</a></li><li>World Rugby: <b>World Rugby U20 Championship 2026 pools and fixtures</b><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.world.rugby/u20/en/pools" target="_blank">https://www.world.rugby/u20/en/pools</a></li></ul><h3>Taranaki referee stories</h3><ul><li>Taranaki referee short documentary / recruitment video mentioned by Sam:<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BHjLx9wzb/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BHjLx9wzb/</a></li><li>Seven Sharp / young Taranaki referee story mentioned by Sam:<br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18i8Lx42EP/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/share/v/18i8Lx42EP/</a></li></ul><h3>Bay of Plenty links</h3><ul><li>Bay of Plenty Rugby Union: <b>Referee Management Group</b><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.boprugby.co.nz/rmg" target="_blank">https://www.boprugby.co.nz/rmg</a></li><li>Bay of Plenty Rugby Union: <b>David Hodgson Trophy</b><br /><a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.boprugby.co.nz/david-hodgson-trophy" target="_blank">https://www.boprugby.co.nz/david-hodgson-trophy</a></li></ul>
June 17, 2026
Nick Hogan on Paris 2024, India Sevens and Leading the Bay of Plenty Senior Panel (EP 14)
<p>In this episode of the Bay of Plenty Referees Podcast, Sam, Jamie and Sean are joined by Nick Hogan, one of New Zealand’s leading match officials, currently dialling in from India while officiating in the latest edition of the Indian sevens competition. Nick reflects on his refereeing journey, from starting out as a schoolboy referee at Wellington College after deciding playing was no longer the best fit, through to representing New Zealand on the international stage. </p><p></p><p>Nick talks about the standout experience of his career so far, officiating at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, including the atmosphere of refereeing in France in front of huge crowds and why that remains his number one highlight to date. He also gives listeners a fascinating insight into the sevens tournament he is currently involved with in India, including the international standard of players and coaches involved, the different competition format, and why opportunities like this are important for the growth and sustainability of sevens rugby globally.</p><p></p><p>The conversation also covers Nick’s role leading work around the new regional representative referee squads, including the shift in focus from NZR high performance, the need to continue servicing representative rugby well, and the goal of making selection processes clearer and more transparent through fitness, law and performance criteria. He also speaks about stepping into the role of Bay of Plenty Senior Panel Manager, why the timing felt right, and his focus on maintaining high standards, developing referees, and helping the senior panel continue to grow. </p><p></p><p>Alongside the interview, the team recap the weekend’s local rugby, discuss the latest education session on the technical pillar of the lineout, touch on Bronco expectations heading into finals season, and run through some rugby news including the sold-out Super Rugby Pacific final and the statistics behind Major League Rugby’s Referee Review System. Nick is also named Whistler of the Week in recognition of both his international officiating work and his contribution to the Bay of Plenty referee community. </p><p></p><p>If you enjoy the episode, you can catch the podcast on YouTube, Spotify, or connect with the crew at the weekly referee meetings.</p>
16 total episodes available
Deep-dive analytics for Bay of Plenty Referees Podcast
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Bay of Plenty Referees Podcast?
<p>Bay of Plenty Referees Podcast is your weekly, local look at rugby refereeing in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. We wrap education session takeaways, appointments and match official news, plus a quick‑fire chats with BoP referees from club footy and sevens to women’s rugby, NPC and Super Rugby. Expect clear law clarifications, refereeing tips and game management insights with a bit of club banter. New episodes weekly in season. Watch on YouTube @BOPRUReferees. Contact: @BOPRugbyReferees on FB @boprureferees on Instagram.</p> - How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.