The 41-year-old from Warrington reveals that officials have to prove their fitness by running 3000m in 12 minutes but don't have to have an eye test.

The 2003 Referee of the Year also says he thinks rugby league players are far more respectful than footballers and believes humour is the key to maintaining control on the pitch.

It's difficult balancing the day job and refereeing.

I work as an associate director for the Bank of Scotland, working within a specialist team lending to construction companies.

Kirkpatrick has refereed both the final of the Challenge Cup and the Super League Grand Final

I have to attend a lot of corporate events, like business lunches and such like, and it can be tough making sure you only eat the right type of food and avoiding alcohol.

We have an organised training session every Tuesday night in either Wigan or Bradford.

All the referees and top touch judges get together to do some track work, but the rest of the time we train alone.

We have an annual fitness test to see if we are fit enough to do the job. It's normally around 10 January, which is a real bind so soon after Christmas.

We have to do 3000m in 12 minutes, plus some agility tests and sprinting work.

Funnily enough, we don't have our eyesight tested.

I think that's because of the advent of contact lenses, which means even spectacle wearers like me can go out with the lenses in.

We tend not to see players and coaches socially, but there will be a number of coaching seminars throughout the year when we can speak with each other.

If there is a problem on the field, I try to diffuse it with humour rather than confronting players

I think, generally, we are respected. We certainly don't get many of the problems that football referees get.

But if there is a problem on the field, I try to defuse it with humour rather than confronting players. Life can be a bit too serious at times, can't it?

I remember doing a Salford game a few years ago and there was an appeal for a crossing movement during the first half.

Steve Blakely came right up to me claiming an obstruction. He said to me: "Aren't you supposed to give a penalty for that?"

I ignored him, never said a word. Then in the second half, Salford created a three-man overlap and the ball went to Blakely. All he had to do was catch it to score. He dropped it.

At the resulting scrum, I went across to him and said: "Weren't you supposed to catch that?"

There was another incident during a Test match between Wales and Australia.

Allan Bateman played at the ripe old age of 38 and a lot was made of his advancing years in the build-up to the game.

At one point he went down injured, so I ran across and asked him: "What's the problem, Allan? Arthritis?"