"Fred Howard is England's leading referee having refereed 13 international matches. Today he will referee Australia for the fourth time and his second Australia versus Wales Test. The first being the third and fourth play-off match at the 1987 World Cup in Rotorua, New Zealand.

It is his third visit to Australia . The first being his appointment as referee for the Australia versus France Test in Sydney, 1986, the second when he took charge of the Bledisloe Cup match in Sydney, 1988.

Married with two sons, he is a sports goods retailer as well as being a schoolmaster at Rivington High School in St Helens where he teaches geography. Educated at Cowley School , a union and league nursery, and Hull University , he represented the Waterloo Club on the wing as a player. However, at the age of 23 a serious knee injury ended his career.

Another knee problem surfaced in 1989 when he had to have an operation to remove a troublesome piece of bone. He missed much of the 1989 season in Britain but took charge of the two Test series between the All Blacks and France in New Zealand .

He was appointed to the England international panel in 1983 and has also refereed five consecu­tive English Cup Finals at Twickenhan, 1986-90. He believes the media could do a lot to assist referees especially in regard to supporting the stance taken by referees against foul play. In his career he has sent three international players from the field for dangerous and illegal play. "