Kerry Fitzgerald

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Kerry Fitzgerald
Birth nameKerry Victor Joseph
Date of birth1948
Date of death18 December 1991(1991-12-18) (aged 43)
Rugby union career
Refereeing career
Years Competition Apps
1987
1984		 Rugby World Cup
Test Matches		 26

Kerry Victor Joseph Fitzgerald (c. 1948 – 18 December 1991) was an Australian rugby union referee best known for officiating in the 1987 Rugby World Cup Final, the first ever Rugby World Cup final.

Refereeing career[]

Fitzgerald took up refereeing in 1977, making his international debut in 1984 in a match between New Zealand and Fiji in Suva.[1]

For the first Rugby World Cup in 1987 he was one of two Australian referees selected. Fitzgerald sent off Welsh player Huw Richards after he had been knocked unconscious during a semifinal between New Zealand and Wales.[clarification needed] He went on to referee the World Cup Final.[1]

He went on to referee 26 tests, including the England-Scotland Rugby World Cup Semi-final in 1991, just 6 weeks before his death.[2]

Death[]

Fitzgerald collapsed and died in his office on 18 December 1991.[2]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Joubert joins exclusive club". SA Rugby Referees. 20 October 2011. Archived from the original on 27 October 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Fitzgerald dies". New Straits Times. 19 December 1991. Retrieved 27 October 2011.
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