South African rugby referee Craig Joubert popped into the Bay of Plenty this week.

Jourbert was in the Bay speaking at a BOP Rugby Referees Baywide meeting on Tuesday night, where he gave an 'inspirational 60 minute insight into the life of a professional referee”.

Pat Rae and Craig Joubert.

He told Bay of Plenty Rugby Union Referee Manager Pat Rae how he spends around six months of the year on the road refereeing at some of the finest rugby stadiums in the world.

He talked about the pressures he faces through the immense public scrutiny and he had the audience in stitches when relaying a story about his debut in the Super rugby competition in 2005.

He says he was getting plenty of assistance from the Brumbies players and when he tried to stamp his authority on the match by telling them that there were 15 referees on the field and too much talking, a wise cracking George Gregan chipped in saying, 'yeah mate and you're not even in the top ten”.

Joubert had some great advice to the younger referees in the room, which hopefully will inspire them to ensure that they never lose sight of why they started refereeing in the first place.

'It's great for Craig to give his time so freely to come and talk to us. No doubt he's one of the world's best referees and having him at our meeting was fantastic,” says

Referee Manager Pat Rae.

'It's like a local club rugby team getting Ritchie McCaw along to their training.”

Joubert will remain in the Bay for a couple more days before heading to Auckland to control the Blues match against the vast improving Rebels at Eden Park at the earlier time of 5.15pm.

Local Bay of Plenty referees Glen Jackson and Brett Johnson will assist him on the side lines, while fellow Bay of Plenty referee Nick Briant heads to Invercargill to control the Highlanders match against the Brumbies immediately afterwards at 7.35pm.