#3. Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Arguably the best scrummaging referee out there, O’Keeffe can count himself as one of the game’s most underrated referees. He was the youngest referee at the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, taking his bow at Australia v Fiji at the Sapporo Dome.
O’Keeffe also has a career away from rugby, explaining in 2019: “Certainly, no one can question my eyesight. I’m an Ophthalmologist. I’ve been lucky enough to balance both careers over the last couple of years as being a professional referee has become a full-time commitment.” Dr O’Keeffe co-founded oDocs Eye Care.
DID YOU KNOW? O’Keeffe’s brother, Michael O’Keeffe, represented New Zealand at the 2012 London Olympics in football.
