What started out as a way to earn pocket money has thrust Reuben Keane into the global rugby union spotlight as an international referee.
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The 22-year-old Canberra man will be one of the assistant referees in the Wallabies' clash with Argentina on Saturday, after helping officiate last weekend's nail-biting All Blacks win over the Springboks.
And just like Michael Barlow, who was a boundary umpire in last weekend's AFL grand final, Keane is a Marist College graduate.
Keane followed his father into refereeing sphere as a teenager, happy to blow the whistle when he wasn't playing the game.
Two years ago he retired from playing to focus entirely on refereeing, while juggling his job as an accountant.
Last weekend was his first top-tier Test match, and he was required to raise his flag late on when Jordie Barrett's late penalty booted New Zealand to a narrow win over South Africa.
"It was phenomenal [to be out there]," Keane said.
"Being in the middle of it for the national anthems and the Haka gave me goosebumps."
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Keane is no stranger to the international stage, having already refereed in Sevens tournaments around the world.
He spent the 2021 Super Rugby AU season doing his apprenticeship on the touch line, and has also been selected as part of the refereeing group on the World Rugby Sevens circuit when it resumes.
Basing himself in Brisbane this year proved to be a masterstroke, as COVID ravaged the rest of the eastern seaboard.
His ultimate aim is to be a full-time referee.
"Hopefully down the track that's a possibility," Keane said.
