Background
O'Brien was born in Southland, New Zealand and is the son of former international rugby referee Paddy O'Brien.
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Matt O'Brien
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He studied pharmacy at the University of Otago where he played as a winger on the University's rugby team in the early 2000s, before he moved to the Gold Coast in Australia and established a pharmacy business.
Career
He has officiated on the IRB Sevens World Series circuit since 2011 and was appointed to the Super Rugby referees panel for 2014 and 2015. After retiring from playing in the Queensland Premier Rugby competition for the Gold Coast Breakers, O'Brien took up rugby refereeing in 2008. He was appointed to the IRB Sevens World Series in 2011, and was the referee in three finals matches.
He was named as one of 16 referees on the SANZAR referee panel for the 2014 season, and refereed his first match in Super Rugby between the Chiefs and Rebels in April that year. He also refereed at the IRB Junior World Championship in 2014.
