He has been there, bought the Tshirt and done it all, having numbered the 1991 World Cup final among his record haul of Tests, but on Saturday at Lansdowne Road, Derek Bevan will referee his 44th and last international.
"It will be sad, I have had a grand time and I am going to miss it like hell," admits the 53year-old Welsh official, who has been a referee for the last 28 years although all the while he has bucked the trend among modern-day officials to turn professional.
As an electrical training officer, Bevan can thus side-step the old refrain "don't give up the day job ref" although even in his local club he is not immune to having his chain yanked, so to speak. His picture adorns the clubhouse wall at the West Wales club of Vardre but is framed by a toilet seat which is closed over his picture if it's felt he's had a howler.
A feisty flanker with Vardre in his playing days, during which he was once sent off by then international referee Jeff Kelleher, being the butt of such jokes doesn't bother the poacher turned gamekeeper.
"I know some people will find it hard to believe that referees also make friends but I regard that as the biggest bonus from doing something I have always enjoyed, with the good times far outweighing the bad," says Bevan, who will continue refereeing club games until May. "After that, I really don't know what I will do. I have kicked a few ideas around but it might be nice to just get up on a Saturday and go where I want to go."
While taking into account that the current Test match fee is £1,500, Bevan believes the modern day referee's lot is generally much easier now. "We are wired up to our touch judges, who have talking flags, and then there is a commissioner watching the film for foul play - all a far cry from when I started."
He has been extending his world record ever since refereeing Scotland's defeat of Ireland at Murrayfield five seasons ago and maintains the lower his profile on match day the better. "Everyone will be going to Lansdowne Road to see the Irish and Italians play rugby, and that is just how it should be."
Glenn Metcalfe believes Scotland young gun Chris Paterson should be given his international chance on Saturday - even though it could shunt him onto the wing.
The flying full-back is under pressure for his shirt after Scotland coach Ian McGeechan insisted 21-year-old Paterson would only be considered for that role or that of outhalf for the Six Nations clash with France at Murrayfield.
