Referee Peter Mills has died after collapsing during a junior game in Blenheim, New Zealand, on Saturday. Mr Mills, 62, collapsed after suffering a cardiac while officiating an under-13-and-a-half grade game.
Police Sergeant Jason Munro said that bystanders started CPR until ambulance crews arrived and took over, conducting CPR for a further 50 minutes. Sgt Munro said the ambulance crews could not resuscitate the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mr Mills, a semi-retired dairy farmer, had been a member of the Marlborough Rugby Referees Association for more than 30 years.
Tasman rugby chief executive Tony Lewis said that Mr Mills was a key part of the Marlborough referees association.
"Rugby's lost a bloody great fella," Lewis said.