Clive Norling (born April 1950) is a former

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...

international

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the Comparison of rugby league and rugby union, two codes of ru ...

referee. Norling is one of the world's most experienced referees, having officiated in a then-record 25 international tests prior to his retirement in 1992, including a quarter final of the inaugural

Rugby World Cup The Rugby World Cup is a men's rugby union tournament contested every four years between the top international teams. The tournament is administered by World Rugby, the sport's international governing body. The winners are awarded the Webb ...

. In 1998, he took over from Ken Rowlands as the Welsh Director of Refereeing, a post he held until 2003. After retiring from refereeing, Norling completed a master's degree in business and taught at the Swansea Institute of Higher Education, before succumbing in 2002 to a crippling clinical depression, which forced him to leave his Welsh rugby role and left him close to suicidal. The depression continued until 2009. Norling credits his wife, Mair, and BBC reporter

Phil Steele Phil Steele (c. 1960) is an American sportswriter and analyst who focuses exclusively on college and professional football. He is considered a "highly respected prognosticator" within the sports media. His company, Phil Steele Publications, pr ...

for helping him recover.Smith, M.,
'I wanted to say goodnight to the world' – Renowned rugby referee Clive Norling opens up over his battle with depression
" ''Walesonline'', 28 January 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2018.

References

External links

Welsh Rugby Union articleBBC article
Welsh rugby union referees 1950 births Living people People educated at Neath Grammar School for Boys Rugby World Cup referees Sportspeople from Neath {{Wales-rugbyunion-bio-stub