Dalton man officiated the women and men's Rugby World Cup

Craig Regan worked as an interchange match official, which means that he made sure substitutions were made correctly, and checked for head injuries as players walked off the pitch. 

Craig was running on the side of the pitch during the finals, which for the men was Australia vs. Samoa on November 19, and for the women was Australia vs. New Zealand on the same day. The Australian teams won both games, with the Aussies beating Samoa 30-10, and the Kiwis 54-4. 

Craig said: "The interchange official puts up subs and checks for any head injuries during changes, they do this for both teams. We were part of the World Cup team."

The medals that Craig Regan received for officiating the games (Image: Craig Regan)

When asked if he was nervous, he said: "I really was, but I did the job. I didn't get the chance to do it until I got a call at seven in the morning. Unfortunately, the person that was going to do it was taken unwell."

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In terms of decisions, he said that you 'don't get second chances' and the officials can only make the best out of what they saw in front of them. 

Craig started his rugby career as a player at Askam, and he then played professionally at Barrow Raiders. Afterwards, he coached a few local teams in the area: "I started coaching kids in Dalton, but I realised that there aren't many referees around." It was from there that Craig started working his way up as an official. 

When asked if he would participate in such a high-level competition in the future, Craig said: "Never again. I'm 48 in one year, I am one of the oldest officials around. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience." 

Officials at rugby games still have to perform intense aerobic exercise especially as they run backwards. Also, as Craig put it 'I don't get subbed off.'

Craig mentioned that the Barrow and District society is running a match officials course on November, 28. He said this would be a good chance to 'take up the whistle' as there is a national shortage of referees.