That came a few days after he controlled his 100th game in the World Sevens series, a quarter-final clash between South Africa and Australia in Singapore, and this weekend he will be in the middle for the first time in the BKT United Rugby Championship.
His first 15-a-side assignment in the URC will see him referee the game between Edinburgh and Zebre at The Hive – another step up the ladder of success for the part time health sector worker, retained fireman and aspiring full-time professional referee.
“They say goo thins some in threes and the Olympic selection came on the back of making my 100th appearance on the World Sevens Series. Now I get the chance to make my URC debut as well,” said the 25-year-old Breakspear.
“It hasn’t quite sunk in that I’ll be part of the Olympic Games in Paris this summer. It is an incredible honour.
“I know I’ll be following in the footsteps of Craig Evans and Adam Jones, who were involved in the Tokyo Games, and it’s great to continue the historic Welsh link to rugby at the Olympics in Paris with Albert Freethy and David Leyshon having been referees at the 1924 15-a-side competition.”
Breakspear first took up the whistle when he was a pupil at Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun eight years ago. He was encouraged to consider giving up playing – he was an outside half at school and at Abercynon Youth – and attempt to climb the ladder in the world of refereeing.
So far, so good! He has more stamps on his passport from exotic locations than most ‘Twentysomethings’ and is now set to be directly involved in the greatest sporting show on earth.
“I’d never thought about the possibility of refereeing until Dai Cambourne, one of my teachers and a referee himself, talked to me about it. I started with mini and junior games, was given the chance to do a Youth fixture when I was 17 and things have just spiraled from there,” added Breakspear.
“My first Indigo Premiership game came in 2017 at Bridgend and I got my first taste of Six Nations rugby when I was part of the assistant referees support panel for the Wales v Ireland game.”
He was only 19 at the time and was left hanging by the world’s most experienced referee, Wayne Barnes, when he ran the water on for him. That gave him a taste of where he wants to get to in his refereeing career and the URC game in the Scottish capital is another important stepping-stone for him.
“There will be a big decision to be made after the Olympics about whether I stay on the sevens circuit or concentrate fully on 15-a-side rugby,” he said.
“Sevens rugby has enabled me to travel the world and be involved in some incredible tournaments, but my main goal is to referee in the Six Nations and to go to a World Cup. I’ve still got a lot of learn.
“It is difficult at times juggling everything that is going on in my life, but everyone is so supportive. I guess the big goal is to become a full-time referee and choosing the right time to push for that is critical.
“I’ve got a lot of family and friends coming to watch me in Paris and the first priority is to make them proud of my performances out there. I want to enjoy the experience and then sit down with my managers and mentors at the WRU to decide the best career path for me.”
