The NSWRL was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of NSW Rugby League Referees Association Life Member (NSWRLRA), Allan Byrnes OAM.
Byrnes took up the whistle in 1953 and made a significant contribution to refereeing and the game of Rugby League throughout his decorated career.
“Allan Byrnes OAM was a trailblazer for refereeing on and off the field for his association of Illawarra and the Country Rugby League Referees Association (CRLRA) over many decades,” NSWRLRA chief executive Greg McCallum said.
“He had the ability to communicate to people of all ages and was always sought out and gave advice freely from his experiences to many referees and those involved in all levels of Rugby League.”
Byrnes officiated in numerous Illawarra Grand Finals and CRL Inter-divisional fixtures but was also a well-recognised touch judge after being appointed to representative matches controlled by legendary officials Col Pearce, Cliff Brown and Darcy Lawler.
He was also prominent in the game’s administration circles having served his Illawarra home Association as both Assistant Secretary and Honorary Secretary, the latter position for a period of fifteen years in the 1950s and 1960s. He served as President of the Illawarra Rugby League for ten years and was a member of the CRL Management Committee and the CRL Referees’ Appointments Board.
In 2009 he was awarded an OAM for his services to Refereeing and the game of Rugby League. He was the longest-serving and proud Life Member of the Illawarra Referees (1968) and the Regional College of the NSW Referees (1972), and was also awarded Life Membership of the Illawarra Division Rugby League, the CRL Referees’ Association (now NSWRLRA) and the Country Rugby League (now NSWRL).
In 2019 he co-authored a book “Get ‘em Onside Ref” which chronicles the 100-year history of the Illawarra Referees’ Association and had been residing at Diggers Aged Care at Corrimal on the South Coast up to the time of his passing.
The NSWRL passes on its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Allan Byrnes OAM.
