Close-up of a Ben O'Keeffe elite international rugby referee or official wearing a red shirt with black accents, a wireless earpiece, and a microphone, standing outdoors during a game at rugby world cup in Japan 2019.

Ben O’Keeffe

International Rugby Referee

Elite Rugby Referee Coaching & Performance Tools

Learn How to Referee with Clarity, Confidence, and Consistency

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Rugby players in a match, Italy v Scotland, some on the ground and others standing around, with a referee Ben O'Keeffe in a red jersey overseeing the game, in a stadium filled with spectators.
Three male referees, including Ben O'Keeffe, in yellow and turquoise sports uniforms, standing together in a locker room, smiling at the camera.
Three athletes including Ben O'Keeffe in a yellow and blue sports uniforms standing together indoors, smiling at the camera.
Three smiling rugby referees including Ben O'Keeffe in white and green uniforms standing outdoors in muddy conditions, with trees and a building in the background.
Ben O'Keeffe man wearing a red rugby jersey sitting against a dark background before 2019 rugby world cup.
Ben O'Keeffe wearing a red rugby jersey with the logos of Emirates, World Rugby Referee, and a sports brand, standing against a plain gray background, smiling, with his hands behind his back.
Rugby players on the field during a match, with one referee Ben O'Keeffe raising his hand.
Two male rugby referees including Ben O'Keeffe in orange and navy uniforms standing on a field, one holding a piece of paper.
Four men standing on a rugby field inside a stadium, with three wearing bright green rugby jerseys and one in a dark jacket and pants. They are smiling and posing for the photo including Ben O'Keeffe.
Two rugby referees standing on a beach, wearing colorful jerseys with the 'Emirates Fly Better' logo and the World Cup branding, with umbrellas and people in the background. Including Ben O'Keeffe and Wayne Barnes.
Two rugby players and referee Ben O'Keeffe standing side by side at a press event, with a backdrop featuring logos of sponsors and rugby championship branding.
Four rugby referees including Ben O'Keeffe in white jerseys and navy shorts standing on a field with a crowd in the background during Lions series in Australia.
Three male referees wearing white rugby jerseys with blue and green details, posing together indoors, smiling, with arms around each other. Including Ben O'Keeffe.
Ben O'Keeffe instructs young rugby players on a grassy field during daytime, with several players standing in line.
Group of smiling men on a bus or tram taking a selfie, wearing colorful sports jerseys and sunglasses, with greenery outside the window behind them including Ben O'Keeffe.
Three men in red rugby jerseys with black shorts standing side by side holding a rugby ball, posing for a photo at the Rugby World Cup Japan 2019 event. Ben O'Keeffe and NIgel Owens.
Three men in rugby referee uniforms celebrating with champagne in a locker room including Ben O'Keeffe.
Rugby players and referee Ben O'Keeffe on a field engaged in conversation during a match.
Rugby players in red and black jerseys compete for possession of the ball on the field during a game, with spectators in the stands and referee Ben O'Keeffe.
Two men stand on a beach wearing sports jerseys with the Emirates logo, one in red and the other in teal, with their hands on their hips, posing for a photo before 2019 Japan world cup including Ben O'Keeffe and Nic Berry,
Rugby players competing for the ball on the field, with referee Ben O'Keeffe and spectators in the background.
Two men smiling and taking a selfie in front of the Colosseum in Rome, Italy; one wearing a World Rugby referee jacket and the other wearing a black cap are referees Ben O'Keeffe and James Doleman.
Two rugby players standing on the field, one in a green and white jersey is the referee Ben O'Keeffe and the other in a black and red jersey, with a blurred crowd in the background.
Ben O'Keeffe referee smiling in an aqua sports jersey stands on a beach with a tree, ocean, and people in the background.
Group of five referees, three men in rugby uniforms holding flags, one man in a suit, and one woman in a team shirt, standing in a room with brick wall background. Including Ben O'Keeffe referee.
Ben O'Keeffe in a yellow referee jersey with black accents and shorts, standing with hands on his hips, smiling before the 2023 rugby world cup.
Ben O'Keeffe rugby referee wearing a black Canterbury shirt with the World Rugby logo, standing on a field with his arms crossed.
Ben O'Keeffe a rugby referee in a pink jersey, focused on the game, on a blurred background.
Four rugby players and referee Ben O'Keeffe on the field during a game, with a crowd watching from the stands.
Three rugby referees, including Ben O'Keeffe, wearing navy blue jerseys and shorts, holding coconuts with straws, inside a room with a grey wall and grey tiled floor.
Rugby players in action during a match, with a player holding a rugby ball while being tackled by opponents, and others running or observing on the field, with a crowd in the background. Including rugby referee Ben O'Keeffe.
Ben O'Keeffe, a rugby referee wearing a yellow shirt with black and blue details gestures with his right hand during a game at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. In the background, there is a sign with the Rugby World Cup logo and text.
Ben O'Keeffe in a red rugby jersey smiling on a rugby field.
Rugby players in a match, with one player holding the ball and being tackled by opponents Ben O'Keeffe in the background.
A group of officials including Ben O'Keeffe and staff on a rugby field, smiling and talking after a match at the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, with a stadium in the background.
Rugby match with players engaged in a tackle and scrum on the field, some players are dirty and wearing uniforms with logos with referee Ben O'Keeffe.
Rugby referee Ben O'Keeffe, wearing a white jersey with sponsoring logos, is talking to players on the field during a game, with teammates in black and red striped jerseys and an opposing team in yellow, black, and red jerseys in the background.
Four rugby referees, including Ben O'Keeffe, in team jerseys standing together with a man in a suit holding a banner that reads 'South Africa / France, Johannesburg, 24/06/2017' in a locker room.
Ben O'Keeffe in a white rugby jersey with sponsor logos, standing on a rugby field with a stadium and players in the background.
Referee Ben O'Keeffe, in a neon green shirt and purple shorts gesturing on a tennis court.
Rugby players on the field during a match, with one player diving to score a try and others chasing and referee Ben O'Keeffe.
Referees on a rugby field, some wearing yellow jerseys and others in blue and white jerseys, engaged in discussion or preparing for a game including Ben O'Keeffe.
A rugby referee Ben O'Keeffe wearing an orange and blue uniform with the words 'Fly Emirates' on the front, standing on a rugby field with hands on hips and a focused expression.
A rugby referee Ben O'Keeffe in a green jersey and dark blue shorts running on the field during a match, with rugby players in blue and white uniforms behind him.
Rugby players from two teams on the field, about to start a game, with an official referee Ben O'Keeffe in the center.
A male rugby referee Ben O'Keeffe running on the field during a game, wearing a white and blue uniform with logos and a whistle around his neck.
Two men in friendly conversation, one wearing a black suit and sunglasses, the other is Ben O'Keeffe in a green referee jersey with a France World Cup badge, standing on a sports stadium field.
Referee Ben O'Keeffe showing a penalty signal to rugby players during a match.
Ben O'Keeffe wearing a yellow sports referee jersey from 2023 RWC with dark blue accents and black shorts, standing with arms crossed and smiling against a light background.
Ben O'Keeffe with dark hair wearing a red rugby jersey with the rugby world cup logo and Canterbury logo, and a black lapel mic attached to his shirt.
Rugby players falling to the ground during a match with referee Ben O'Keeffe raising his hand and spectators watching from the stands.
Three rugby players on the field, two wearing black and yellow uniforms and one in pink is referee Ben O'Keeffe, standing and talking during a game.
Rugby referee Ben O'Keeffe in black uniform with sponsor logos, running with a focused expression, next to a colorful coat of arms with a lion, a rose, a thistle, and a shamrock, and a banner reading "Since 1888."
A rugby game with a player in a white uniform running with the ball while being tackled by a player in a yellow uniform. An official Ben O'Keeffe is black and white is in the background.
Referee Ben O'Keeffe in a green shirt talking to a player in a red jersey during a rugby match.
Three male rugby referees standing on the field, holding a flag, wearing white uniforms with sponsor logos. The referee is Ben O'Keeffe during the Lions series in South Africa.
Rugby match with players in yellow and blue uniforms, one player tackling another in yellow, in front of a crowd of spectators and a referee Ben O'Keeffe .
Three rugby players involved in a tackle during a match, with two players in blue jerseys and one in a white and orange jersey. The stands with spectators are blurred in the background and includes referee Ben O'Keeffe .
Rugby referee Ben O'Keeffe in a bright green jersey drinking from a blue sports water bottle during a match.
Referees and officials on a rugby field during a game, wearing white and blue uniforms including Ben O'Keeffe.
A rugby player holding a ball runs forward with multiple players chasing him on a field during a game with referee Ben O'Keeffe.
Rugby players from opposing teams engaged in a heated confrontation on the field with referee Ben O'Keeffe controlling proceedings.
A man in a black suit holding a rugby referee award trophy, standing in front of a backdrop with New Zealand Rugby and ASB Rugby Awards logos - the winner was Ben O'Keeffe.
Rugby players in blue uniforms listening to referee Ben O'Keeffe in white jersey giving instructions on the field.

Referee Performance Framework

It Begins Now

Get a glimpse inside the Referee Performance Framework - a structured coaching system built from my experience at the highest level of international rugby.

Have a sneak peek at these sample sessions below, which show how the game can be simplified through clear frameworks for positioning, breakdown interpretation, and decision-making under pressure.

Each video is designed to give you practical tools you can apply immediately on the field.

If you’re serious about improving your consistency, clarity, and overall game management, the full framework provides a complete set of coaching video resources to take your performance to the next level.

Meet Ben O’Keeffe - international rugby referee and medical doctor, operating at the highest level of performance both on and off the field.

Playing the Halfback - A practical example of “playing the 9” at the ruck, highlighting how and when the scrum-half can be legally challenged. This clip breaks down the key cues referees look for, helping you recognise when the ball is out, when the 9 is protected, and how to apply this consistently in real time.

Line of Touch Law - A short, practical example of the line of touch in action. This clip highlights how the law is applied in real time, helping you clearly understand when the ball is in or out and how to make confident, accurate decisions on the field. Unlock for the full version.

Unlock the Full Referee Performance Framework

Featured Products - Elite Referee Coaching

Game Review Session -

1:1 Coaching

Let’s connect and break down your game together. Bring footage of a match you’ve refereed or played in, and we’ll review key decisions, positioning, law understanding, and overall game awareness.

This session is designed to give you clear, practical feedback to help you improve your performance and rugby IQ.

Perfect for referees and players looking to develop their game through personalised coaching.

Learn more

Mastering Refereeing - Performance Blueprint

Gain access to my personal refereeing blueprint - the exact system I use to prepare, review, and perform at the highest level.

This practical guide breaks the game down into simple, repeatable frameworks, helping you make clearer decisions, stay consistent under pressure, and referee with confidence.

Delivered as a PDF, this is your go-to weekly reference to sharpen your decision-making and elevate your performance.

Learn more

On-Field Referee Coaching - Auckland

Take your refereeing to the next level with hands-on, on-field coaching focused on positioning, movement, and game awareness.

This practical session walks you through exactly where to be in each phase of play - and why - giving you simple, repeatable frameworks you can apply immediately in games.

Ideal for referees, players, and coaches wanting to improve decision-making through better positioning and understanding of the game.

Learn more
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