From starring in Rassie's video to Ref of the Year
SPOTLIGHT: In South Africa, he is enemy No.1. In Australia, he is a national hero.
Controversial referee Nic Berry, the man at the centre of the RassieGate saga, was named the 2021 recipient of the Roger Vanderfield Referee of the Year award.
Berry was the subject of an hour-long video review by South Africa’s Director of Rugby Johan Erasmus, following his controversial performance in the first Test between the Springboks and the B&I Lions.
Both Erasmus and Bok captain Siyamthanda Kolisi accused him of being “disrespectful”, while the video showed 20-odd blatant errors made by the Australian match official in the Boks’ 17-22 loss to the tourists.
Erasmus has just returned from a two-month ban, slapped on him in mid-November over the video.
Erasmus is still barred from attending matches in an official capacity for another eight months, following his now infamous criticism of Berry.
SA Rugby was also fined £20,000 (ZAR409,000) for their role in the sorry saga.
However, on Thursday (Australia time), he was rewarded for his performances with the Roger Vanderfield Referee of the Year accolade – an award selected from Australian Rugby’s national referees as the person who demonstrates the highest standard of officiating throughout the year and is considered to be a role model to the game.
Berry, who had previously won the award in 2019, claimed the prize following a highly regarded 2021 season officiating in both the Super Rugby AU and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman season.
After this, the former player took charge in the 2021 British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa before officiating in both the July and October Test windows.
Australian officials made up close to a quarter of the appointed officials during the July Test window.
Damon Murphy, Nic Berry and Angus Gardner took charge of five matches, while Graham Cooper, Jordan Way and Amy Perrett also acted as assistant referees.
Rugby Australia Chief Executive Andy Marinos said: “I’d like to start by congratulating Nic for this wonderful achievement during what at times was a challenging year.
“I am delighted our game has recognised Nic, his high standards and professional contribution to our game.
“To be considered for this award, you must demonstrate the highest standard of officiating as well as be a role model within our game and this description exemplifies Nic in every aspect of his career.
“From the Super Rugby season, right through to tier one international matches, Nic, alongside all of our match officials, have carried themselves to the highest professional standards, and I would like to congratulate him and the entire match official team for doing that last season.”
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Berry said: “I’m grateful to receive this award and would like to thank Andy for his kind words.
“The year 2021 was a difficult year for me personally and I would like to take this opportunity to thank my family, friends and those in the wider Rugby community for all their support.
“Officiating at any level of the game has its challenges and I have the highest respect for anyone who is willing to face those challenges and does their best to contribute to our wonderful game.
“So I am very humbled to receive this award and accept it on behalf of the entire match official team, who do a wonderful job of upholding the values of Rugby at all levels of the game.”
