Embattled New Zealand referee Steve Walsh says he isn't blaming anyone for his troubles but he was hoping that his employers would assist him with getting help for his problem with alcohol.
Walsh announced his "retirement" from the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) following an inquiry into a personal employment issue.
Speaking to New Zealand broadcaster, Radio Sport, Walsh admitted that that an all-night drinking session during a Sanzar conference in Australia in December was "unacceptable" on his part.
Although his pleas to the NZRU for help in dealing with his personal issues were turned down, he concedes that his unfortunate situation was "my own fault".
Continues Below ↓
| 'However one bad mistake has led to some huge upheaval in my life really' |
He said he had gone out in Sydney with some friends between the second and third days of a Sanzar referees' conference.
"I did something that was completely unacceptable, and pretty much drunk through the night and arrived at the conference for a 9 o'clock start and was definitely under the influence of alcohol," said Walsh.
"I was asked to leave, which I did, and as a consequence of that and me owning up to my mistakes, the rugby union weren't prepared to give me another chance. The upshot is I'm finished refereeing in New Zealand."
Walsh admitted to Radio Sport he had started to drink alcohol to relieve pressures of his personal life which he never dealt with properly.
"The honest truth is in the middle of last year when I started to get happy about myself and rugby again I realised I had a problem with how I drank and I went and independently sought some advice. I went to a community alcohol programme. I thought I was on the right path.
"However one bad mistake has led to some huge upheaval in my life really."
When asked if he felt let down by the NZRU, Walsh refused to directly condemn his employers, but did hint at some frustration.
"I wasn't looking for another chance," he said. "I was looking for a last chance. Whether they didn't believe I could do that, I'm not sure. But in the end they weren't prepared to go down that route.
"What I had to do was salvage the best possible outcome for me. That was this exit package and that's the path I'm on," Walsh told the broadcaster.
Meanwhile IRB referee manager Paddy O'Brien says he hopes Walsh can overcome his issues to return to rugby.
"If he goes away and addresses his problems and gets another union to nominate him to the IRB I'm absolutely sure that we will select him again because he is one of the world's best referees," O'Brien told Radio Sport.
"I'd love to see him come back and I hope he can. If he can go through another country's system we would look at him on merit. At 36, the world is still his oyster."
O'Brien adds that he has no issue with Walsh "personality-wise". "That's who Steve Walsh is. I just hope Steve can overcome some problems which he has been honest enough to put his hand up and say he has got," said O'Brien.
In the 2003 Rugby World Cup Walsh was suspended for three days for inappropriate behaviour towards the England rugby team, after an altercation with England fitness coach Dave Reddin
Walsh was suspended for four months in 2005 during the British Lions tour of New Zealand for verbally abusing Irish winger Shane Hogan, after a disputed decision.
- This article was originally published on page 7 of The Star on May 02, 2009
|
StumbleUpon
Reddit
Digg
Delicious
Newsvine
Facebook
muti
Twitter
