Joubert to ref RWC Final
Craig Joubert of South Africa has been appointed to referee next Sunday’s Rugby World Cup Final between France and New Zealand at Eden Park in Auckland. He is the second South African referee to referee a World Cup Final.
South Africa has been involved in five Rugby World Cup. The Springboks have played in two finals and South Africans would have refereed the other three.
In 1999 and 2003 the referee in the RWC Final was André Watson and now in 2011 it is Craig Joubert.
Joubert will be joined by 2007 Rugby World Cup Final referee Alain Rolland and Nigel Owens as assistant referees and Guilio De Santis as television match official. Rolland, who refereed the 2007 final, is the reserve referee.
The IRB also appointed referees to the third-place play-off on Friday. Wayne Barnes will referee the match with Romain Poite and George Clancy as his assistants and Shaun Veldsman as the television match official.
The appointments were made by the IRB’s Match Official Selection Committee in Auckland on Monday following a thorough review of performances during the knock-out phase.
Joubert said: “It is an enormous honour to get the final and I would like to thank Paddy and the Committee for giving me the opportunity.
“The whole team has performed superbly, assisted each other and bonded over the course of the last six weeks and I would like to thank them for their support and best wishes. I am now really looking forward to getting out there and enjoying the occasion.”
South Africa’s refereeing boss, the only referee to have refereed two World Cup Finals, André Joubert. said on hearing the news: “What a fantastic achievement! This appointment is a testimony to the hard work of many people in the SA Referees’ fraternity and I would like to thank them.
“Further, I believe Craig is flying the flag on behalf of a very special group of SA Referees and I know he is immensely proud of representing them all on the biggest stage in world rugby.
“Well done Jouba!”
IRB referee manager Paddy O’Brien said: “The IRB Match Official Selection Committee was delighted with Craig and Alain’s performances in the semifinals. Alain will perform the reserve referee role should he be required. On behalf of the Committee and all of the team I would like to congratulate Craig, Wayne and all the guys on their selection, which is entirely on merit.
“We may be nearing the conclusion of what has been a truly superb Rugby World Cup, but our focus remains firmly on consistency, penalising the clear and the obvious and tackling the ‘big five’ areas.
“Collectively we continue to work together as a unit and maintain a zero tolerance attitude towards infringements and foul play across the key areas of the Game. In that regard, I would also like to thank the coaches for their buy-in to the process during this tournament.”
David Pickering, the IRB’s Match Official Selection Committee Chairman, said: “It was a very tough selection process.
“The overall standard in performance by the match official team has been superb and I would like to thank the panel for their dedication, teamwork and professionalism over the past four years, not just the six weeks of the tournament. They can be proud of playing their full part in contributing to what has been an exceptional Rugby World Cup.”
THE FINALS APPOINTMENTS:
Third-place play-off:
Wales vs Australia
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), George Clancy (Ireland)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Rugby World Cup Final:
France vs New Zealand
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Alain Rolland (Ireland), Nigel Owens (Wales)
Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)