Paddy O'Brien's post-match function

There is no more convivial place in the world of rugby than King's Park in Durban after a big match. There are ten fields outside of ABSA Stadium and that's where the party is. And that's where Paddy O'Brien refereed a kids' scrum after the Tri-Nations decider between South Africa and Australia!

There was an extra reason for conviviality as dusk gathered - after all South Africa had won.

Parties heaved in corporate tents and clubhouses, amongst the cars and around braai fires. It was a good place to be on the warm Durban evening with no wind - the best time of the year to be in Durban near the sea.

There were many jovial adults with food and beverage to greet the Kiwi referee as he wandered through on his way from the ground. There were also kids, more active and less beveraged than their parents, playing their games with rugby balls. It was a happy, boisterous place.

One group of boys saw the tall, easily recognisable referee and called to him: "Sir, sir. Please come and referee us."

And the genial referee could not resist.

The boys said: "Please, sir, we are going to have a scrum."

Scrums had played their role in the Test. Twice in the first half O'Brien had penalised the Springboks at a scrum five metres from the Australian line, which had incurred the vociferous wrath of the crowd. Once he had penalised the Wallaby scrum, which had given the Springboks three points - and had met with the vociferous approval of the crowd. The scrums had been an issue.

On the field just outside the stadium the boys set a scrum with the famous international referee in position to referee it.

Suddenly the scrum collapsed and a wickedly innocent face looked up to the tall referee and said: "Please, sir, tell us what went wrong."

Mirth burst out, not least from O'Brien himself as he went merrily (and cheered) on his way.

"It was one hell of a party out there and on leaving a couple of kids wanted me to ref their scrum," O'Brien told this website.

"What's more they bound properly, and didn't emulate [Bill] Young and [Eddie] Andrews! What a pleasure."