Wellington Premier referee Richard Gordon.

Wellington born and raised, Gordon attended Scots College where he played for the 1st XV mostly at fullback but also in other positions. He started his refereeing career while in the 6th form (Year 12), refereeing in the morning ahead of playing duties in the afternoon. A serious shoulder injury the following year curtailed his playing career, bar occasional appearances for the Wests Under 85kg team, and he took to the whistle full-time.

Returning to Wellington after a gap year overseas where he refereed for the London Society, Gordon quickly made his way up the ranks, becoming the first and so far only teenager to referee a Premier fixture when he made his debut in a Jubilee Cup match between Upper Hutt and Norths at Maidstone Park in 2010 just ahead of his 20th birthday.

He has since gone on to referee the 2011 Hardham Cup Final and Jubilee Cup semi-finals in 2012, 2013 and 2014. The 2014 Swindale Shield decider between Marist St Pats and Tawa was his 50th Premier match.

Gordon is also a member of the 2014 NZRU Referees Wider Training Group, and off the field combines study at Victoria University with his job as assistant club rugby administrator and judicial secretary at Wellington Rugby.??