But for Smith, an ex-player, who has turned out on fields from Auckland to Dunedin, where he played premier rugby for Southern RFC, there is a draw to having the best seat in the house. “I loved my playing days but, hand on heart, getting out there and blowing the whistle and making big decisions in some big games, that’s the bug you catch and once you get a few of those under your belt you don’t really look back.” The fitness went without saying “but equally there is certainly some law training you need to come up to speed with… you have to be pretty bang on with your calls.”