The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) wasn't prepared to help Steve Walsh with his ongoing drinking problems, the long-serving referee said on Monday as he quit the game.

Walsh and the NZRU issued a joint statement announcing his retirement from refereeing.

Walsh told RadioSport he had approached the NZRU for help, "but they weren't prepared to buy into that type of counselling and help".

NZRU general manager of professional rugby Neil Sorenson said the union had offered Walsh plenty of support.

Walsh, who refereed his first test match in June 1998, was New Zealand's most experienced international referee.

He had extensive experience at domestic, Super 14 and international level, having refereed in both Six Nations and Tri Nations tests.

He was appointed to the last two Rugby World Cup tournaments.

Walsh made his national referee squad debut in 1996 and in total refereed 212 first class games, including 35 Tests.

Walsh confirmed he had been in an incident involving alcohol at a SANZAR conference in Sydney last December.

He went out with friends the night before the last day of the three-day conference, and "pretty much drank through the night", arriving for the 9am start still under the influence.

"Pretty much as a consequence of that inquiry and me owning up to my mistakes, the rugby union weren't prepared to give me another chance and the upshot is I've finished refereeing in New Zealand," Walsh said.

Sorenson told RadioSport he had been working with Walsh for the last six to eight months.

"Steve would have received more support from us than any player or administrator that we've ever supported over the last couple of years. That's undeniable and absolutely the honest truth," he said, adding the NZRU would continue to support Walsh, until at least the end of this year.

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