Valleys teen ref is a web hit after Six Nations debut
HE’S the teenage Welsh referee who became an internet sensation after making his memorable Six Nations debut last weekend.
And now 19-yearold Ben Breakspear has opened up on being an online hit – and making his name on the international stage at such a young age.
Ben, from Abercynon, has made rapid strides over the past couple of years under the tutelage of Nigel Owens and other WRU senior refs.
After working his way up to reffing at Premiership level – an achievement in itself – came the appointment that left the young WRU Academy ref lost for words, as he was chosen to be one of Wayne Barnes’ assistants for last week’s Wales-Ireland clash at the Principality Stadium.
Recalling the moment he found out, Ben – a firstyear pharmacy student at Cardiff University – said: “I was taking an exam in college, so my phone was off for two hours.
“When I switched it back on, I saw an email, subject ‘Wales-Ireland.’ I thought nothing of it. But when I opened it up, it was from Nigel Whitehouse (WRU refs chief) saying I had been appointed for the Ireland game. It was a bit of a shock to say the least. I was lost for words. It was a big moment for me and a nice reward for the hard work I have put in.”
For Six Nations matches, the referee, touch-judges and TMO are appointed by World Rugby. The host Union selects three officials to act as assistants, and Breakspear was one of the trio chosen for the Fridaynight match.
“I was assistant referee 5,” he explains. “You manage the replacements, liaising with team management and relaying the information, putting up the boards highlighting changes, as well as monitoring HIAs (head injury assessments) and blood bins.”
It meant he was also water boy for the officials on the pitch. And it’s that latter role which saw him becoming an internet sensation.
During a break in play in the first half, he ran on with a bottle of water for Barnes. But the English official was so preoccupied with checking an incident with his TMO he didn’t notice and Ben was left following him around in vain.
Video footage of that sequence ended up going viral, as young Ben eventually discovered.
“I was totally oblivious to it at first. I hadn’t seen the video,” he explained.
“I had a game the next day, I was reffing Risca v Nantyglo, so I was focused on that. Then, after the game, I switched my phone on and I had 700 Facebook notifications and more than 100 friend requests! I didn’t have a clue what was going on, but then I opened up the link and saw the video. I did giggle myself I must admit.
“You’ve just got to bite the bullet and laugh it off, because if you don’t laugh, then you’ll cry.”
You need to have a fairly thick skin as a ref and Ben has rapidly developed that since taking up the whistle at the tender age of 16, while he was a pupil at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun.
After completing a reffing course, and knocking his own playing career for Abercynon Youth on its head, he worked his way through the ranks with two full Premiership league matches under his belt this season.
“Even though I am a teenager and some of the players are in their late 30s, the older heads accept that you are still the man with the whistle,” he said.
Having been handed a spot as a WRU Academy ref, Breakspear spends a fair bit of time working with the likes of Owens and other top officials, training together up at the indoor barn at the Vale Resort.
“Nigel has been a big help. It’s been great being able to learn from a World Cup final referee,” he said.
“It’s just a great opportunity for me. You are learning from the best.”