Kaplan stays No.1 SA referee

SA Referees has announced new panels for its top referees for 2008, slightly smaller panels at the top.

The National Panel has been reduced from 12 referees to 10 referees and the Provincial Panel from 20-16.

Jonathan Kaplan, who refereed a semi-final at the World Cup recently, is still ranked at No.1 in South Africa.

Linston Manuel has stopped refereeing at provincial level and will join the Touch Judge Panel. Gareth Lloyd-Jones has moved out of the smaller National Panel to the Provincial Panel.

The first six referees on the National panel – Jonathan Kaplan, Craig Joubert, Marius Jonker, Mark Lawrence, JC Fortuin and Willie Roos – have been designated as Super 14 referees with Deon van Blommestein and Phillip Bosch as reserves.

National Panel (Top 10) (in merit order)

1. Jonathan Kaplan (SARU)
2. Craig Joubert (SARU)
3. Marius Jonker (SARU)
4. Mark Lawrence (SARU)
5. Jerome Fortuin (SARU)
6. Willie Roos (SARU)
7. Deon van Blommestein (SARU)
8. Phillip Bosch (SARU)
9. Pro Legoete (SARU)
10. Christie du Preez (SARU)

Provincial Panel 16 (In merit order)

Jaco Peyper and Joey Salmans are reserves for the National Panel.

Archie Sehlako, who was in the Contenders Squad last season, is the only newcomer on this panel while Marc van Zyl, Marius Bonthuys, George Roper, Gert Stander and Fumanekile Yamile are no longer there. Van Zyl, Stander and Yamile are possibles for the Touch Judges Panel.

1. Jaco Peyper (Free State)
2. Joey Salmans (Western Province)
3. Francois Veldsman (Boland)
4. Gareth Lloyd-Jones (SARU)
5. Tiaan Jonker (Golden Lions)
6. Sindile Mayende (Sharks)
7. Lourens van der Merwe (Free State)
8. Stuart Berry (Sharks)
9. Matt Kemp (Western Province)
10. Mlungiseli Mdashe (Eastern Province)
11. Chris Healey (Sharks)
12. Mtheleli Msileni (Eastern Province)
13. Jerome America (Western Province)
14. Jason Jaftha (South Western Districts)
15. Silulami Pityoi (Western Province)
16. Archie Sehlako (Sharks)

Contenders Squad

The first seven are ranked in order of merit, the rest alphabetically.

George Roper, Marius Bonthuys and Petri Bosch are reserves for the Provincial Panel.

In order of merit:

1. George Roper (Blue Bulls)
2. Marius Bonthuys (Griffons)
3. Petri Bosch (Griquas)
4. Richard Ingram (Sharks)
5. Ben Crouse (Blue Bulls)
6. Quinton Immelman (Western Province)
7. Andries Retief (Pumas)

In alphabetical order:

Rodney Bonaparte (Eastern Province)
Stephan Breytenbach (Pumas)
Heyns Deacon (Golden Lions)
Francois de Bruin (Griquas)
George Duma (Border)
Bheki Jekubeni (Border)
Sazi Katiya (Border)
Martin Lekhanye (Free State)
Willie Killian (Leopards)
Bongani Maloni (Border)
Theshin Naicker (Sharks)
Dilbert November (South Western Districts)
Sewes Terblanche (Blue Bulls)
Jan Venter (Blue Bulls)
Heinrich Viljoen (Golden Lions)

Candidates for Contender’s Squad: (to be tested and possibly invited to Easter Tournaments for qualification.)

Calvin Zulu has come up from last season’s Academy Panel.

In alphabetical order:

Johan Black (Eastern Province)
Luke Burger (Blue Bulls)
Gerrie de Bruin (Blue Bulls)
Wilbur Kraak (Leopards)
Rhala Mkhaleli (Leopards)
Lewis Ndomidatya (Western Province)
T Nondyola (Eastern Province)
Jannie Oosthuizen (Golden Lions)
Craig Palmer (Golden Lions)
Andries Pieterse (Western Province)
Dirkie Pietersen (Western Province)
Franswa Roux (Sharks)
Johan Steyn (Leopards)
LJ Swart (Leopards)
JV van der Merwe (Blue Bulls)
Eddie van Greune (Golden Lions)
Piet van Huysteen (Leopards)
Riaan van Vuuren (Pumas)
Kevin White (Sharks)
Pieter White (Pumas)
Johan Zimri (Western Province)
Calvin Zulu (Sharks)

More will be considered once nominations has been scrutinised.

Academy Squad: Will be announced once the list is completed.

Women’s Panel (in merit order)

Sipokazi Njani and Lize Els have come up from last season’s Contenders Panel.

1. Smit Kim (Golden Lions)
2. Eugenia Daniels (Western Province)
3. Eska Swart (South Western Districts)
4. Sipokazi Njani (Border)
5. Roslyn Fortuin (Boland)
6. Lize Els (Golden Lions)
7. Madel Herselman (Golden Lions)

Contender’s Squad – Women

Marlize Jordaan (Free State)

Specialised Touch Judge Panel (in alphabetical order)

Confirmed on the panel:

Peet Badenhorst (Golden Lions)
Roderick Barry (Western Province)
Mandla Dakuse (Border)
Johan Greeff (Blue Bulls)
Lappies Labuschagne (Pumas)
Louis Mzomba (Western Province)
Reuben Rossouw (Sharks)
Cobus Wessels (Blue Bulls)

Newly nominated, of whom only two will start the season:

Pieter de Bruin (Golden Lions)
Eddie Lubbe (Boland)
Linston Manuels (Boland)
Gert Stander (Golden Lions)
Muller van der Nest (Blue Bulls)
Marc van Zyl (Western Province)
Fumanekile Yamile (Eastern Province)

TMO Panel in alphabetical order)

Jenny Bentel is new to this panel following her retirement from refereeing.

Michael Cupido, Johan Meuwesen and Shaun Veldsman are Super 14 TMOs.

Jenny Bentel (Western Province)
Michael Cupido (Golden Lions)
Johan Meuwesen (Eastern Province)
Shaun Veldsman (Boland)