Steve Walsh is back in the fold for top level rugby refereeing after being named in a new look Super 14 referee's panel for next year.
Walsh had his contract with the New Zealand Rugby Union terminated earlier this year because of a number of off-field issues and has been officiating in Sydney since then.
There is an eight-man elite referees panel which includes three New Zealanders: Bryce Lawrence, Chris Pollock and Keith Brown.
Walsh is in the nine-man reserve group which also includes other New Zealanders Vinny Munro, Garratt Williamson and Jonathon White.
Top South African whistle-blowers Jonathan Kaplan, Craig Joubert, Mark Lawrence and Marius Jonker and Australian Stuart Dickinson are the others on the merit panel.
