Joubert gets Currie Cup Final
South African Referees announced on Tuesday that Craig Joubert would referee the Currie Cup Final on 30 October 2010, regardless of who the finalists are or where it will be played.
This is in keeping in the SA Referees principle of merit selection regardless of domicile.
Naturally the competition for this, the top match of the year in many eyes, is great in South Africa who has four of the top referees in the world in Jonathan Kaplan, Mark Lawrence, Marius Jonker and Joubert. Making the decision early puts the competing referees at rest.
The finalists will be known only after Saturday’s semifinals. Then, too, the venue will be decided. The venue could be Durban, Newlands or Bloemfontein.
The appointment is done by the referees’ selectors along with André Watson, South Africa’s refereeing boss.
Watson said: “We have appointed the best in-form referee.”
Speaking on Joubert’s appointment, Watson added: “We took into account merit and performance, but there are others unlucky to lose out.
“With the introduction of the young Turks this year we have had exceptional performances throughout the year and any one of several referees could have been appointed. But only one can be appointed.”
The “young Turks” this year are Jason Jaftha, Pro Legoete, Lourens van der Merwe, Sindile Mayende, Joey Salmans, Jaco Peyper and Stu Berry.
Joubert, who turns 33 in November, becomes the 25th referee appointed to referee the Currie Cup Final. The first was the great Boy Louw in 1939. He is the youngest. The previous youngest was Tappe Henning who was 34 in 1995.
Earlier this year Joubert refereed the Super 14 Final at Orlando Stadium. He will now become then fifth South African to referee the finals of both Super Rugby and the Currie Cup. The others are Tappe Henning, André Watson, Jonathan Kaplan and Mark Lawrence. Joubert is the third to referee the Super Rugby Final and the Currie Cup Final in the same year. Watson did it in 1999, 2000 and 2004, Kaplan in 2005, 2006 and 2009. In 1999 Watson refereed the Super 12 Final, the Currie Cup Final and the World Cup Final.
Joubert started refereeing as a schoolboy, the son of Des Joubert who was a provincial referee. Son Craig refereed his first Currie Cup match in 2003, his first Test in 2003 and his first Super rugby match in 2005. He is thus in his ninth season of Currie Cup rugby.
Joubert, who was in banking is now a full-time referee, married to Charmaine. They have a son Max. Joubert announced his son’s birth with: “The Springboks 2031 World Cup-winning flyhalf has just been born!”
Fact file:
Full name: Craig Paul Joubert
Born: Durban, 8 November 1977
Educated: Maritzburg College, University of Natal – B.Com B.Com Honours (Business Finance)
Occupation: Full-time referee, previously a banker
Date of starting: 1994. He played rugby as a flyhalf or fullback at Junior School and represented Natal at the Under-13 Craven Week. He started refereeing at Maritzburg College, as did Ian Rogers before him.
Society: KwaZulu Natal Referees’ Society
First Test: 2003: Namibia vs Uganda in Windhoek
He was on the IRB’s Sevens circuit from 2001, refereeing 11 finals.
First Super match: 2005 – Waratahs vs Chiefs
First Currie Cup match: 2003: Griqualand West vs Pumas in Kimberley
