New Zealand Rugby released its national squads for the coming season last week and Otago has some representation. Otago referees had been going through something of a drought in getting an official on to the national scene in the past few years, though that was not through a lack of effort. The national referees squad includes James Doleman, who starts as the Otago Rugby Football Union referee education officer next month. North Otago's Nick Webster has again been named in the national squad in what will be his third year in the squad. Other features of the squads are the inclusion of two women in the national squad, Natarsha Ganley of North Harbour and Rebecca Mahoney, of Wairarapa Bush.

Source: Otago Daily Times January 15, 2018 16:41 UTC