Col Pearce

{{Short description|Australian rugby league referee}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}

{{Use Australian English|date=August 2015}}

{{Infobox rugby league biography

|name = Col Pearce

|fullname = Colin Frederick Pearce

|nickname =

|image =

|imagesize =

|caption =

|birth_date = 1917

|birth_place = Newtown, New South Wales, Australia

|death_date = 10 June 2004 (aged 86)

|death_place = Newtown, New South Wales, Australia

|refereecomp1 = NSW Rugby League

|refereeyear1start = 1946

|refereeyear1end = 1968

|refereeappearances1 = 343

|refereecomp2 = Test matches

|refereeyear2start = 1960

|refereeyear2end = 1967

|refereeappearances2 = 9

|refereecomp3 =

|refereeyear3start =

|refereeyear3end =

|refereeappearances3 =

|refereeappearances5 =

}}

Colin Frederick Pearce (1917 – 10 June 2004){{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2004/06/11/1129808.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717000316/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2004/06/11/1129808.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 July 2012|title=League world mourns referee Pearce|date=2004-06-11|work=abc.net.au|accessdate=2009-07-16}} was an Australian rugby league referee. He is one of

the most widely known and widely respected referees in the history of rugby league.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/11/1086749884223.html|title=Col Pearce passes away - Breaking News|language=en|access-date=2017-09-04}}

Pearce, born in Newtown, New South Wales, was originally more interested in cricket but that changed to rugby league due to

his fascination with the rules and interpretations of the rules of rugby league. He began

refereeing in 1946, he was promoted to the first grade fixtures towards the end of the 1947 season. He then took

charge of nine test matches between 1960 and 1967, three World Cup matches in

1968 and six Grand Finals, his first being in 1955, and then the others between

1964 and 1968.{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/11/1086749884223.html|title=Col Pearce passes away|date=2004-06-11|work=The Age|accessdate=2009-07-16}} He enjoyed a career of 343 first grade games.{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/rl/misc/referees.html|title=Referees 1939-2015|work=Rugby League Tables|accessdate=2015-04-22}} He was

authoritative yet he allowed the game to flow. He had a keen relationship with the players

where they would show him respect due to his fair and consistent decision making. His motto

was that rugby league referees should "eat, sleep and drink the rules of rugby league" He

was elected to the Rugby League Referee's Examination Board in 1951.

After his retirement from rugby league refereeing, he had a long career as a rugby league commentator in the Sydney electronic and print media, with 2UE,{{cite web|url=http://www.newspix.com.au/Packages/ViewImage.aspx?id=421607|title=RL referee & 2UE radio commentator Col Pearce in 1975|date=2004-06-16|work=newspix.com.au|accessdate=2009-07-16}} Channel 7{{cite web|url=http://www.nma.gov.au/shared/libraries/attachments/league_of_legends/controversy/files/22455/H_controversy.pdf |title=Controversy |last=Heads |first=Ian |publisher=National Museum of Australia |accessdate=2009-07-16 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611185855/http://www.nma.gov.au/shared/libraries/attachments/league_of_legends/controversy/files/22455/H_controversy.pdf |archivedate=11 June 2011 |df=dmy }} and The Sydney Morning Herald.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19800330&id=_ToRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=0OYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6524,10766623|title=Rules in scrums must be applied|last=Pearce|first=Col|date=1980-03-30|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=2009-07-16}}

Pearce later became a journalist, writing featured columns for The Sun-Herald.{{cite news|last=Parce|first=Col|title=POLICE WERE TOO SLOW|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=f_1jAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ieYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2340,1098410|accessdate=10 June 2011|newspaper=The Sun-Herald|date=27 May 1979}}

Pearce died from pneumonia on 10 June 2004, aged 86.{{cite web|url=http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/th/read/DPS-SYDNEY/2005-09/1126248605|title=Death Notice: Pearce, Colin Frederick |date=2004-06-14|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=2009-07-16}}