BC Rugby Hall of Fame inductee Keith Morrison passes away

If you were involved in rugby in BC back in the 1980s, you were always pretty pleased to find out that Keith Morrison had been assigned to referee your game. He was consistent, decisive and had a "players first" attitude.

Not surprisingly, after a steady diet of JBAAs, Cowichans, Castaways, Oak Bays and UVICs, some McKechnie Cups and Interprovincials, he moved to the top of the national pecking order. From 1982 through to 1993 he handled a good number of full internationals, including matches involving England and Ireland. Born in New Zealand, he also took charge of his beloved All Blacks in the 1989 BC Centenary match.

Most significantly, he officiated two RWC qualifiers prior to being named one of the match officials at the 1991 World Cup Tournament. As such, he paved the way for other Canadians to referee on the world stage.

Once retiring, he stayed active in the game, spreading the gospel and helping develop aspiring, new referees.
He had a wealth of experience and analyzed thoroughly officiating trends in the game. He could be very direct when dispensing advice, but it was always with an aim towards improvement.

I was one who certainly benefited from his wisdom and advice. I had made something of a charmed start to my refereeing career in 1990, being given some top games before I was really ready. Somehow I stumbled through them well enough. But my comeuppance was just around the corner, and came on a miserable, cold November afternoon at Macdonald Park when JBAA squared off, quite literally, vs Pocomo. 80 minutes of mayhem later I sat shaking in the bowels of the old wooden stand. I had been completely unable to gain any sort of control, with my management techniques, decision making and belief sadly lacking.

Fortunately, a few minutes later, Keith Morrison popped in to the changing room, sat down, offered a wry smile and indicated that every referee had been in the same position as me. He took the time to go through the match, pointing out sequences or calls I had badly got wrong. But most of all, maybe just by being there, he provided me support and repaired confidence. He noted that it was all part of the learning curve, and so, over the next ten years, I always had a reference point to fall back on when other games did not go to script.

While Keith had been in poor health for a few years, it was still a shock to learn of his passing the other day. He did a lot for me, and for so many others associated with our great game.

On behalf of the entire Castaway-Wanderers club, may I salute an outstanding rugby man and offer our deepest sympathies to the Morrison family.

Ian Hyde-Lay, Former player and referee, current CW coach