Kerry Fitzgerald was an Australian rugby union

Rugby union

Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...

 referee best known for officiating in the 1987 Rugby World Cup Final

1987 Rugby World Cup Final

The 1987 Rugby World Cup Final was the final match in the 1987 Rugby World Cup, the first Rugby World Cup played.It was played at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand on 20 June 1987 between the hosts New Zealand and France...

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Refereeing career

Fitzgerald took up refereeing in 1977, making his international debut in 1984 in a match between New Zealand and Fiji in Suva.

For the first Rugby World Cup in 1987 he was one of two Australian referees selected. Fitzgerald created controversy during a semifinal between New Zealand and Wales when he sent off Welsh player Huw Richards

Huw Richards

Huw David Richards is a former Welsh and Neath RFC rugby union player. He played in the 1987 Rugby World Cup as a lock and became the first player to receive a red card in a Rugby World Cup tournament.-Biography:...

 after he had been knocked unconscious. He went on to referee the World Cup Final

1987 Rugby World Cup Final

The 1987 Rugby World Cup Final was the final match in the 1987 Rugby World Cup, the first Rugby World Cup played.It was played at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand on 20 June 1987 between the hosts New Zealand and France...

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