Steve Walsh (rugby referee)

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Steve Walsh (born 28 March 1972) is a professional rugby union referee from New Zealand. He currently lives in the Auckland's St Mary's Bay.

Walsh is unusual among his peers in that his playing career ended at age 13, due to a spinal injury resulting from a birth deformity, which prevented him playing rugby. He began refereeing at the age of 16.^[1]

In the 2003 Rugby World Cup he was suspended for three days for inappropriate behaviour towards the England rugby team, after an altercation with England fitness coach Dave Reddin^[2], missing one match he went on to referee the quarter final between Australia v Scotland. He was again suspended for four months in 2005 during the Lions tour of New Zealand for verbally abusing Irish winger Shane Horgan^[3], after a disputed decision.

2007 was a vintage year for Steve Walsh, he refereed some notable matches, including: the 2007 Super 14 Final, the first international rugby match at Croke Park in Ireland, and refereed four matches including the South Africa - Argentina semi final in the 2007 Rugby World Cup.