On Saturday, Garratt Williamson of New Zealand's capital will referee the match in Canberra between the Brumbies and the Sharks. It will be just his second Super 14 match.

Like many referees he took up the whistle in 1997 when he suffered a knee injury playing club rugby in Wellington. His progress has been steady - the New Zealand National squad in 2005, his first Air New Zealand Cup match in 2007 and then spent 2008-09 on the IRB's Sevens circuit ending at the Sevens Rugby World Cup in Dubai.

In 2009, he had his first  Super 14 match in Bloemfontein when the Cheetahs played the Stormers, a match the Stormers won 28-22. he is now a full-time referee.

Help along the way? "My coach Nev McAlister and my wife Jill," says Garratt.

Role models? "Mark Lawrence and Lyndon Bray."

What you try to achieve on the field: "To ensure both teams can contest fairly."

What you enjoy about refereeing: "I enjoy being involved in a sport with some of the best athletes in the world. Rugby is the game I love and refereeing has taught me a lot about myself. It’s also a great place to watch a game of rugby from!"

Garratt Williamson is very much a Wellingtonian. He was born there on 27 April 1971, educated there at Paraparaumu College, played club rugby in Wellington and lives there with Jill and their two children - Caleb (4) and Georgia (2).

Now a full-time referee, he has packed his togs and gone to several parts of the world far from windy Wellington.

He says: "I have been lucky enough to travel to some amazing places with rugby, my favourites being Japan, Hong Kong, Dubai, South Africa and Australia. Travel can be tough but once you learn how to deal with it and how your body responds, you find out what works for you."

Refereeing certainly is nice work - if you can get there.