Man in middle for Grand Final most capped referee

NEWS: The most capped referee in Super Rugby history will take charge of the Grand Final in Christchurch on Saturday.

Angus Gardner will be joined by assistant referees Damon Murphy and Matt Kellahan, with Brett Cronan taking on TMO duties.

This marks Gardner’s first Grand Final appointment since the inception of Super Rugby Pacific.

In 2018, he became the first Australian since 1996 to officiate a Super Rugby Final when he took charge of the decider between the Crusaders and the Lions.

Since making his Super Rugby debut in 2012, Gardner has built an impressive resume, including:

• Test debut: Papua New Guinea v Vanuatu, 2011
• Men’s Rugby World Cup 2023 semifinal: Argentina v New Zealand
• Men’s Six Nations 2025 decider: Ireland v France
• First Australian referee to officiate 50 Test matches
• 2018 World Rugby Referee of the Year

Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley said Gardner’s appointment is a deserved reward for his consistent high performance across the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.

“Angus has been an outstanding performer in Super Rugby Pacific this year, and we are delighted to see him taking the whistle for the Grand Final,” he said.

“Super Rugby Pacific in 2025 has delivered one of the most exciting seasons to date. It is the second-highest scoring season on record, with noticeable reductions in stoppage times around penalties, scrums, lineouts, and general play.

“These improvements haven’t happened by accident. Our match officials have worked hard to apply the laws of the game with clarity and consistency, while also enabling the game to flow.

“We thank all our match officials for their role in delivering the rugby that defined the 2025 season, and look forward to seeing Angus and the team take charge on Saturday night.”