Blain played with Carlisle RFC as a scrum-half.[2]
Referee career
Professional career
Blain began refereeing with Cumbria Referee Society.[3][non-primary source needed] By 2015 he was refereeing local English matches in National League 1.[4] and Academy matches for the English Premiership.[5]
In 2016, Blain joined the Scottish Rugby Union to be part of their referee group. He is now a member of the Borders Referee Society. He was promoted to the Elite SRU refereeing panel in 2017.[6]
He now referees in the Scottish Premiership.[7][8]
He has now refereed in the Pro14.[9] He made his debut in the Dragons v Munster match in January 2019.[10]
He has also refereed in the European Challenge Cup.[11][12][13]