For those that don’t know John Pearson, he has had quite a colourful career as a rugby referee and we have delved just a little into his fantastic career as I'm sure he will have some fab stories to tell.

• So how did you get into refereeing? Silloth Secndary Modern were playing Wigton Secondary Modern in March 1967. I played with both PE Teachers at Silloth and then Wigton and they decided that as I was going to College in September to study PE it was time I learnt to start refereeing. They said that I knew the Laws better than them in any case!! I then refereed at College when I was injured and could not play. The teaching in my first two schools which I taught in involved a significant amount of refereeing as both schools were on the Grammar School Circuit in the South East of England. In 1977 after injuring my back having moved from wing/centre to hooker and splitting my appendix scar open I made the choice to referee for Kent Society as I was Coaching Kent Schools XVs by that time and was the County Schools Union Secretary.

• Who was first ‘big’ game to referee? My philosophy is that all games are ‘big’ games to those who are playing in them and you need to approach them with this thought in mind. I suppose that my first senior game was Bedford v Bedfordshire in 1979. A first class club versus a minor County side. My first Division 1 League match (Premiership) was in April 1988 – Orrerll v Rosslyn Park. By this point in time I had already refereed County Championship matches.

• What has been your biggest highlight in your career? There have been many highlights over the 53 years that I have been refereeing. Being forced to referee a Wing PE Colleges Cup match in 1968 when the Staffordshire County appointed referee failed to turn up. Refereeing the Women’s World Cup in Scotland. Refereeing the Maccabiah Games (the Jewish Olympics) four times; refereeing the World Rugby Classic 5 times; refereeing all 3 National Cup Finals, Pilkington, Pilkington Junior and the Intermediate Cup. The Army v Navy Game and the Varsity Match. Refereeing all major Nations and a significant number of 2 tier and lesser Nations. France v Wales 5 Nations game and Reserve referee for the 1995 World Cup in South Africa having been in initially had had my selection blocked by France because I was 47 years old. I suppose the biggest highlight must be the fact that I became the number 1 referee in England from September 1994 to June 1995.

• You hear about the players who are difficult to referee…. Looking back who was your most difficult player to manage? – Not a single player but Johnson v Dallaglio – on the pitch they hated each other and were always trying to the extra inch over the other.

• On reverse who was always someone that you looked to refereeing? Too many to select from although Richard Hill (Bath Scrum Half) and Steve Bates (Both at Wasps and Newcastle) were always a delight to referee as was Jason Leonard.

• I’ve recently read that you only ever gave out 1 yellow card in your career, is that right? Yes – this occurred in a quarter final National Westminster Bank Cup match at Barnard Castle School versus Bradford GS played in atrocious conditions (time to play it was well past). BCS had a very dominant driving maul as one might expect of a side coached by a flanker who had a game for an England XV before becoming a prop. Bradford were wanting to collapse it and eventually I told the Bradford Captain that if his players did it again he would not like my response and that history would be made and so it was. In the course of refereeing for 53 years and over 3000 games I have only sent off 5 players and the last one was a Neath Youth player at Launceston (Cornwall) when I was a Kent Society referee refereeing for Devon Society whilst staying at my Mother in Laws in Dorset. Some 37 years ago.

• The game has moved on with its laws etc… what's your opinion on how the game is at present? I think in all honesty that it has gone to the dogs – the scrum is not well managed, lineouts have become a farce. Offside dominates and post tackle is like WWE wrestling – in the past if you went to ground on the wrong side of a ruck you expected and got punishment and then you were penalised by the referee if the opposition got no advantage. Refereeing is about laying down the parameters in which players can play with safety paramount and fairness for both sides. Clear management of players and the game with clear communication and expectations is of most significance

• Looking back over at your career is there anything you would change? No I have been extremely happy with my 53 years and am looking forward to my 54th year.

• You were part of the game when it changed to professional. Do you think the we look at the game has changed? The way run the game? Money has brought about a change in attitude but probably of most significance is the way that Clubs view promotion and relegation in the Leagues. In terms of Senior rugby I have been extremely lucky to have experienced the best of the amateur and the best of the professional years before the influence of money became paramount

• You still have a lot of involvement in the local and still get on the pitch with your whistle. How have you found local rugby? Local rugby at the level which I now referee will always be for the enthusiast and within its own zone still remains highly competitive. The art of refereeing is to ensure that those participating are provided with enough scope to play the game to their full ability in an environment which is safe and fair.

• What advice can you give someone who sees themselves as the next JP or Wayne Barnes? In short because I could go on at length the following are key elements - Know your Law and how it is meant to be used in the game context. Talk to players and understand their expectations and suck the knowledge and experience of both coach and players. Stay clear of politics. Increase your pace and fitness levels. Remember that it is the players game not yours AND finally take whatever game you are offered as no game is beneath you – every game has its learning points and players expect you to be on your best form.

A big thank you to John for taking the time out to answer my questions. A true honour and privilege.

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