Ben Whitehouse to retire as referee after joining Wales coaching staff

Ben Whitehouse is moving from the middle of the field to the other side of the touchline. The Welsh referee is ending his officiating career to take up a full-time job as a specialist coach with Steve Tandy's Wales men's national squad.

His last game with the whistle will be the Ospreys v Dragons URC match at St Helen's in Swansea on Saturday 24 October. After that he retires from refereeing, bringing to a close a career that began when he was 19, in the 2009/10 season. He is now 36.

In his new job Whitehouse will work with Wales coaches and players on the principles of law, on discipline, and on how they make decisions and communicate.

"I'm incredibly proud to be joining the team now full-time as a specialist coach," Whitehouse said.

Tandy made it clear the appointment builds on work that has already started. "Ben's had a big impact already in his work with us so far this year and it's great to now make that a more formal role," he said.