SARU announce referee panels for 2010

Jonathan Kaplan, the most experienced Test referee in the world, has been ranked South Africa’s top referee for 2010 and heads the list on the South African Rugby Union’s National Panel, which was released this week.

Kaplan, who refereed his 50th Test earlier this year and received the Marriott Refereeing Achievement of the Year Award, has been placed in first place on a very strong National Panel. He is followed by seasoned Test referees Marius Jonker, Mark Lawrence and Craig Joubert.

André Watson, referees manager of SARU, is pleased that some of the world’s top referees are from South Africa.

“We have a strong group of referees at the top and apart from Jonathan, Marius, Mark and Craig, we’re expecting the other seven members of the National Panel to follow in their footsteps in years to come,” said Watson.

“Unfortunately we lost two referees on the National Panel due to retirements, namely Phillip Bosch and Willie Roos. One referee, Lourens van der Merwe (Free State), was promoted from the Provincial Panel.

“Six referees were rewarded for their hard work in the last year and have been promoted to the Provincial Panel. They are Quinton Immelman, Francois Groenewald (both WP), Pieter de Villiers, Rasta Rashivenga (both Lions) and Lusanda Jam (Border).

According to Watson, Ben Crouse (Blue Bulls) is the official reserve to the National Panel, which previously consisted of 12 referees.

Furthermore, two referees on the Contenders Squad will be official reserves for the Provincial Panel, namely Sewes Terblanche (Blue Bulls) and Francois de Bruin (Griquas).

“In an attempt to specialise even further, we will be introducing a regional specialised panel for Assistent Referees, to complement the existing National AR panel,” added Watson.

“We are also introducing a specialised primary school panel of nine or ten referees and will have the full panel in place for the Coca Cola Under-13 Craven Week next year.”

The SA Rugby Referee Panels for 2010 are:

National panel (Top 11) (In merit order)

1. Kaplan Jonathan(SARU)
2. Jonker Marius(SARU)
3. Lawrence Mark (SARU)
4. Joubert Craig (SARU)
5. Legoete Pro (SARU)
6. Peyper Jaco (SARU)
7. Jaftha Jason (SARU)
8. Berry Stuart (SARU)
9. Mayende Sindile (SARU)
10. Salmans Joey (SARU)
11. Van der Merwe Lourens(SARU)

Provincial Panel 14 (In merit order)

1. Crouse Ben(BB) # RESERVE TO TOP 12 PANEL
2. Sehlako Archie(Natal) #
3. Mdashe Mlungiseli (Valke) #
4. Kemp Matt (WP) #
5. Jonker Tiaan(Lions) #
6. Veldsman Francois (Boland) #
7. Maloni Bongani (Border) #
8. Burger Luke  (BB) #
9. November Dilbert  (SWD) *
10. Immelman Quinton  (WP)
11. De Villiers Pieter  (Lions)
12. Rashivenga Rasta  (Lions)
13. Groenewald Francois (WP)
14. Jam Lusanda (Border)

# Varsity Cup Panel
* Reserve for Varsity Cup Panel

Contenders Squad (Top 2 ranked there-after in Alphabetical order)
Merit:

1. Terblanche Sewes (BB)     RESERVES TO PROV. PANEL
2. De Bruin Francois  (Griquas)

Alphabetical:
Aphane Jimmy (BB)
Bonaparte Rodney (EP)
Bosch Petri (Griquas)
Botha Andre (BB)
Lekhanye Martin (FS)
Killian Willie (Leopards)
Pretorius Francois (WP)
Retief Andries (Pumas)
Tucker Jocelyn (BB)
Van der Westhuizen Marius (WP)
Venter Jan (BB)

Candidates TBC

Primary School Panel:
Alphabetical:
Meyer Sakkie (FS)
Msileni Mtheleli (EP)
Remainder to be confirmed in 2010

Women’s Panel (merit)

1. Fortuin Roslyn (Boland)
2. Herselman Madel (Lions)
3. Daniels Eugenia (WP)
4. Smit Kim (Lions)
5. Njani Sipokazi (Border)
6. Jordaan Marlize (FS)
7. Claasen Eska (SWD)
8. Van der Heever Magda (Pumas)
9. Ludick Sanet (Leopards)

Contender’s/Academy Squad – women
Alphabetical:
Daniell Renee (BB)
Duthie Melany (Boland)
Hoffman Henchalla (SWD)
Scholtz Ilana (Lions)
Van Biljon Lize (Lions) – *fitness and availability TBC

Specialized National AR panel (Alphabetical)

1. Bosch Phillip (EP)
2. Breytenbach Stefan (Pumas)
3. Du Preez Christie (EP)
4. Manuels Linston (Boland)
5. Rossouw Reuben (Sharks) – Nominee IRB Panel
6. Wessels Cobus  (SWD) – IRB Panel
7. Yamile Fumanekile (EP)
8. Van Zyl Marc (WP)

AR Nominees for Regional Squad (Course TBC confirmed in February 2010)

1. Oosthuizen Jannie (Lions)
2. Stander Gert  (FS)
3. Johan Wasserman (FS)
4. Van Staden Sieg (Valke)
5. Buitenbach Attie  (Limpopo)
6. Basie Ferreira (Griffons)
7. Gerhard Marais (Griffons)

National TMO panel (Alphabetical)

1. Coetzee Gerrie (FS)
2. Cupido Michael (Lions) – availability TBC
3. Fortuin JC (WP)
4. Meuwesen Johan (EP) – Super 14
5. Veldsman Shaun (Boland) – Super 14

National Selectors (Alphabetical)

1. Billett Hulet (SWD)
2. Immelman Dennis (WP)
3. Thuso Mngqibisa (WP)
4. Schoonwinkel Arrie (FS)
5. Yantolo Banks (Border)
6. Swart Balie (SARU) – coaches/players representation
7. (Ex officio members x3)

National Coaches (Alphabetical)

1. Greyvenstein Hendrik (WP)
2. Henning Tappe (SARU)
3. Naude Theuns (SARU)
4. Billett Hulet (SWD)

National Match Reviewers (Alphabetical)

1. Breytenbach Dries (Pumas)
2. Coetzer Gerrit (FS) – Converting from PR to MR – Trial
3. Hugo Jacques (EP)
4. Janse van Vuuren Theuns (Lions) – Converting from PR to MR – Trial
5. Menze Lusanda (EP)
6. O’Connell Allan (Natal)
7. Oelofse Pierre  (Lions) – Converting from PR to MR – Trial

National Women’s Match Reviewers (Alphabetical)

1. De Villiers Eugene (Lions)
2. Hendricks Keith (Boland)

Issued by SA Rugby Communications