SANZAR's first merit appointments

SANZAR has announced the referees to the first four rounds of Super 14 and for the first time it will apply its recent decision that referees be appointed on merit regardless of country of residence.

So Matt Goddard of Australia will referee a match in which an Australian teams plays a New Zealand team in the first match of the 2009 Super 14. Bryce Lawrence of New Zealand will referee a match between a New Zealand team and an Australian team later on the same day.

On the next day Stuart Dickinson of Australia will referee a match between an Australian team and a New Zealand team and Marius Jonker of South Africa will referee a match between a South African team and an Australian team.

Steve Walsh of New Zealand was not available for the first four rounds as there are still difficult decisions to be made, including a suspended hearing.

The New Zealand Rugby Union has declined to comment on the decision to sideline Walsh, for what the NZRU described as a “personal employment matter”.

It is not the first time the Kiwi had been omitted. Walsh was sidelined by the International Rugby Board after a verbal clash with Irish wing Shane Horgan during the 2005 British & Irish Lions tour. Walsh was also reprimanded by the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Walsh was also slapped with a suspension at the 2003 World Cup in Australia for an altercation with England fitness trainer Dave Reddin.

The interesting newcomer to the SANZAR appointments is Greg Cooper who last appeared on lists as the Highlanders’ coach.

JC Fortuin, till last season a Super 14 referee, has retired and is now training as a television match official.

Joey Salmans and Sindile Mayende were injured doing the phosphate decrement test in Newlands and will need to establish their fitness before fulfilling their appointments.

The appointments are:

Round 1

Friday, 13 February

Highlanders vs Brumbies in Dunedin
Referee: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Touch judges: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Television match official: Shane McDermot (New Zealand)

Western Force vs Blues in Perth
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Nathan Pearce (Australia), Julian Pritchard (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)

Lions vs Cheetahs in Johannesburg
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Touch judges: Phillip Bosch (South Africa), Joey Salmans (South Africa)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)

Saturday, 14 February

Crusaders vs Chiefs in Christchurch
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)
Television match official: Shane McDermot (New Zealand)

Hurricanes vs Waratahs in Wellington
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Touch judges: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Glenn Newman (Australia)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

Stormers vs Sharks at Newlands
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Touch judges: Pro Legoete (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman/JC Fortuin (South Africa)

Bulls vs Reds in Pretoria
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Touch judges: Willie Roos (South Africa), Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Television match official: Michael Cupido (South Africa)

Round 2

Friday, 20 February

Hurricanes vs Highlanders in Wellington
Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Garrat Williamson (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Assessor: Glenn Wahlstrom

Waratahs vs Chiefs in Sydney
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Touch judges: Ian Smith (Australia), Damien Mitchelmore (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Assessor: Wayne Erickson

Western Force vs Cheetahs in Perth
Referee: James Leckie (Australia)
Touch judges: Paul Marks (Australia), Julian Pritchard (Australia)
Television match official: Geoff Acton (Australia)
Assessor: Arrie Schoonwinkel

Stormers vs Reds at Newlands
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa), James Noonan (New Zealand)
Television match official: Michael Cupido (South Africa)
Assessor: Greg Cooper

Saturday, 21 February

Brumbies vs Crusaders in Canberra
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Ian Smith (Australia), Brett Bowden (Australia)
Television match official: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)
Assessor: Wayne Erickson

Bulls vs Blues in Pretoria
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Touch judges: Marius Jonker (South Africa), Stuart Berry (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Assessor: Greg Cooper

Sharks vs Lions in Durban
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Touch judges: Phillip Bosch (South Africa), Christie Du Preez (South Africa)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
Assessor: Arrie Schoonwinkel

Round 3

Friday, 27 February

Crusaders vs Hurricanes in Christchurch
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Touch judges: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Television match official: Kane McBride (New Zealand)
Assessor: Glenn Wahlstrom

Waratahs vs Highlanders in Sydney
Referee: James Leckie (Australia)
Touch judges: Nathan Pearce (Australia), Daniel Cheever (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Assessor: Wayne Erickson

Saturday, 28 February

Chiefs vs Sharks in Hamilton
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Jonathon White (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Assessor: Glenn Wahlstrom

Brumbies vs Western Force in Canberra
Referee: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Touch judges: Nathan Pearce (Australia), Brett Bowden (Australia)
Television match official: Geoff Acton (Australia)
Assessor: Greg Cooper

Lions vs Bulls in Johannesburg
Referee: Phillip Bosch (South Africa)
Touch judges: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa), Sindile Mayende (South Africa)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
Assessor: Greg Cooper

Stormers vs Blues at Newlands
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Touch judges: Stuart Berry (South Africa), Reuben Rossouw (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman/JC Fortuin (South Africa)
Assessor: Arrie Schoonwinkel

Reds vs Cheetahs in Brisbane
Referee: Ian Smith (Australia)
Touch judges: Paul Marks (Australia), Stephen Hill (Australia) 
Television match official: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)
Assessor: Wayne Erickson

Round 4
 
Friday, 6 March

Chiefs vs Western Force in Hamilton
Referee: Paul Marks (Australia)
Touch judges: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Assessor: Greg Cooper

Waratahs vs Reds in Sydney
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Matt Goddard (Australia), James Scholtens (Australia)
Television match official: Geoff Acton (Australia)
Assessor: Wayne Erickson

Saturday, 7 March

Hurricanes vs Cheetahs in New Plymouth
Referee: James Leckie (Australia)
Touch judges: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
Television match official: Michael Frazer (New Zealand)
Assessor: Arrie Schoonwinkel

Blues vs Sharks in Auckland
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Touch judges: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Jonathon White (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Assessor: Glenn Wahlstrom

Highlanders vs Crusaders in Dunedin
Referee: Ian Smith (Australia)
Touch judges: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)
Television match official: Shane McDermot (New Zealand)
Assessor: Greg Cooper

Bulls vs Stormers in Pretoria
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Willie Roos (South Africa)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
Assessor: Arrie Schoonwinkel
 
Brumbies/Lions: Bye