Top New Zealand football referee reveals why blackcurrants have become a daily essential for his match fitness and recovery

International FIFA referee Matthew Conger officiated in the 2018 Football World Cup and spends much of his life on the road travelling to international tournaments.

With high-profile English football teams such as Tottenham Hotspurs now using our blackcurrant extract, it's no surprise the referees are getting in on the act too.

Here, Matthew reveals why he never leaves home without CurraNZ:

"2018 was an exceptionally busy and successful year for me in which CurraNZ played a big part in staying in peak physical condition to referee around the world.

The early part of the year saw me attending monthly FIFA referee training camps to prepare for the World Cup in Russia. I was also refereeing as many matches as possible in the build-up in New Zealand, Australia, Vanuatu,
India and the US.

The trip to India was the most grueling of all, travelling over 10,000km to referee five matches in just ten days. The fact that my team and I experienced no muscle soreness or cramping in extreme match conditions is a testament to how important CurraNZ is to me.

I suffered a fractured foot six weeks out of the World Cup, which was challenging but again, doubling down on our berries aided my speedy recovery and I was fit and ready to go in time for the tournament, with very little impact overall on fitness.

The tournament was an excellent experience and only increased my
desire to continue to referee at the highest level for many years to come.

After the World Cup, it was on to the Sugura Cup Championship Final in Japan, the Chinese Super League, Saudi Professional League, Chinese FA Cup Final (2nd Leg) and the FIFA Club World Cup UAE’18.

This year I am refereeing in the Hyundai A-League (Australia), ISPS Handa Premiership (New Zealand), the OFC Champions League, Saudi Professional League, Dallas Cup, OFC Olympic Qualifiers and the Chinese Super League.

I never leave home without CurraNZ, which continues to be an important component in my nutrition to support the training, match fitness and impact of travel required to referee professional football around the world."