Test referee from Cyprus via Durban
Johny Stavrinou will referee his third Test this Saturday when Greece play Finland in FIRA-AER's Division 3. It's a long way from Durban for this Cypriot.
A Test referee from Cyprus? It seems such a surprise. Perhaps less surprising when the Test referee is such a keen rugby man, proud of the progress the game has made in Cyprus in a short while.
Stavrinou was born in Durban and played as a prop for Beachwood Boys' high till injury put an end to his playing career.
He recalls: "I have been refereeing since I was 16 years old.
"I took up refereeing after an injury. Back then it was the only way to still be involved with the game. I joined the Durban Referees' Society and was the youngest referee back then. I was lucky in that I had referees like Ian Rogers assisting me and giving me advice."
Many will have fond memories of Ian Rogers who started refereeing as a schoolboy at Maritzburg College and was a referee in nine Tests including the 1995 World Cup. He was just 41 when he died of cancer.
But from Cyprus? Do they play rugby in Cyprus? It's a beautiful island in the Eastern Mediterranean, but rugby?
Stavrinou, who holds Level I and II coaching diplomas: "When I first moved to Cyprus, rugby was played only on the English bases. One had to have a special permit to enter the bases and so it was almost impossible to get in. A group of us used to wait until the local supermarket closed and we would park our cars in a circle in the parking lot of the store, switch our lights on and play rugger. The same group of people then started playing touch rugby on the beach and that progressed to the first formation of a civilian club called Pafos Tigers.
"We managed to convince the English Military to allow us to join their league. Shortly after that two other civilian clubs were formed and also joined the league.
"In 2006 the Cyprus Rugby Federation was formed and since then we have gone from strength to strength both on and off the pitch. Highlights include Cyprus beating Greece in Cyprus' first international, hosting the FIRA AER 3D Tournament in Cyprus, hosting three Development Camps for Under-17s, introduction of Tag Rugby into the schools, and Jake White being our guest of honor at a our fundraiser last year.
"This year FIRA AER awarded Cyprus a qualifying tournament for the 2010 European Sevens. This will take place in June this year. Total Rugby will be coming out to do a feature on the Cyprus Rugby Federation during the Bosnia game in March.
"Six years ago we were playing Rugby in the parking lot of a local supermarket; six years later we're ranked 12th in the European Sevens rankings and we've only lost one game in the 15s FIRA league."
That first match between Cyprus and Greece in 2006, Cyprus's very first Test was played in Paphos. Some of the Cypriots were playing abroad and one was a Turkish Cypriot. Cyprus won 39-3 and the referee on that historic occasion was Johny Stavrinou.
The next year Stavrinou, who has passed Level 1 and Level 2 courses, refereed Monaco vs Azerbaijan. This year's Test between Greece and Finland will be a step up to Division 3C, a division higher than where Cyprus are though the Cypriots are unbeaten and well placed to win 3D.
Johny Stavrinou was born on 15 May 1973 and is a Commercial Manager, Pafos International Airport. He talks of his role models: "My late dad who taught me never to give up and to always be the best that I can be.
"In terms of referees, Ian Rogers who was always looking out for me, Freek Burger who at a game in Durban said to me, 'As a referee you will most probably be the most hated man on the pitch, but it's the love of the game that keeps you running out back on', Nigel Owens for all that he has been through and accomplished and of course Jonathan Kaplan for his sheer brilliance."
Johny Stavrinou obviously loves the game.