Nigel Williams blows his last

Nigel Williams of Wales refereed the Test between Australia and France on Brisbane. When he blew the final whistle he also ended his illustrious refereeing career.

He said after the match: "I am indeed hanging up my whistle and couldn't have had a better match to finish on. It was played in great spirit and some of the tries were simply breathtaking."

Williams has been one of the finest communicators in international rugby, calm, succinct, sincere and clear. He understands the game as well as its laws. But then he played flyhalf for Wales Under-19 and then for Neath before taking up refereeing in 1991 when he joined the West Wales Referees' Society.

In his career he refereed numerous club matches in Wales and in the Celtic League and Zurich Premiership as well as 22 European Cup and 24 Heineken Cup matches. He refereed A Internationals six times and refereed his first Test in 2002 - New Zealand vs Italy in Hamilton. In all he refereed 18 Tests. In addition he was the touch judge in more than 20 Tests.

His Heineken Cup matches include three quarter-finals and two semi-finals. He says of his career: "If I were to pick out the single biggest memory it would be the epic Munster v Wasps 2004 Heineken Cup semi final at a packed Lansdowne Rd. It was a fantastic honour to be part of the most passionate and intense occasion I have ever experienced."

Honours have come his way. He refereed the final of the Under-19 World Championship in Dijon in 2000 and was at the 19997 Sevens World Cup, in all refereeing at six IRB Sevens tournaments.

In addition to the Tests we have mentioned, Williams refereed six Women's Tests and was at the Women's World Cup in Spain in 2003.

In 2003 he reached what was a career highlight - refereeing at the Rugby World Cup in Australia where he refereed three matches and was a touch judge for a quarter-final and for a semi-final.

He retires in the A panel of 16 referees on the IRB's Merit List.

He said: "I leave refereeing with many, many fond memories and having forged lifelong friendships along the way. I have many interests outside rugby and they are placing an ever increasing demand on my time which has meant that I was forced to sit down and make a decision about my commitment to refereeing.

"For now it is time to enjoy the free weekends with my friends and family who have been so supportive over my 35-year affair with rugby."

Nigel Hugh Williams was born in Neath on 8 January 1961. He was in sales and management till he became a fulltime referee. He is married and the father of three children.