This week we are fortunate to speak with leading global 7s referee Paulo Duarte just before his departure to Los Angeles for the final stop of the HSBC 7s World Series for 2021-22. Paulo’s face will be instantly recognisable to 7s fans, with career highlights including the 2020 Olympics held in Tokyo in July 2021, the world tour and many European events. We speak to Paulo about life on the refereeing circuit, his experiences in dealing with less experienced players and countries, with referee criticism and his advice for aspiring referees too! And we de-bunk some of the myths and mysteries of the differences between 7s and XVs! NOTE: Next week we are scheduled to speak with a prominent lawyer connected to rugby. Contact the show with any questions or suggested topics via the various handles below! Key Segments: [4:30] Getting his start in rugby [7:15] Learning the rules of rugby and the differences across regions [17:15] The refereeing fraternity and the challenges of criticism and feedback in the modern era [25:00] The weird and wonderful differences of 7s and XVs [34:45] Paulo’s career highlights including the Olympics and the world tour [41:45] Some fun questions to get Paulo’s vision for the game [52:00] Paulo’s advice for aspiring referees   Follow us on Twitter: @OutsideCTRpod Follow us on Instagram: @outsidectrpodcast Connect with us on LinkedIn: “Outside Centre: Rugby’s new territories” Email: [email protected]