Rasta leaves SA shores
South African referee Rasta Rasivhenge has left South African shores and will be based in Brisbane, with the approval of SA Referees.
Rasivhenge, who refereed the Final of the first round of the 2014/15 IRB Sevens World Series on the Gold Coast at the week, has opted to stay on in Brisbane.
Rasivhenge is perhaps the top Sevens referee in the world, certainly the most experienced after his dozen finals on a circuit which has taken him from east to west, from north to south.
He is certainly the fastest referee about the field. All things being equal, he is a certainty to referee at the Olympic Games in 2016 when Sevens makes its debut at the Games.
Rasivhenge is also one of South Africa's Elite Referees, which makes him one of the top ten referees in the country.
He is due to stay on in Brisbane, which means that he will not be refereeing in what is left of the domestic season but will continue with Sevens rugby which has two more tournaments this year – in Dubai and Port Elizabeth.
Also in Queensland is another top Sevens referee, Matt O'Brien, the son of Paddy O'Brien who is in charge of the IRB's Sevens referees.
The 28-year-old, Kempton Park-born, Jeppe and Wits educated Jeppe teacher is now a fulltime referee and would like to live a more settled life.
He is engaged to a South African lady who is living in Australia at present, hence the attraction. Marriage is a distinct possibility. This sabbatical will also enable him to concentrate on Sevens where his heart is at present.
South Africa's referee boss, André Watson, said: “Rasta informed me of his plans recently and he goes with our blessing, as we believe he will further expand his refereeing horizons and will hopefully return a better and more experienced match official in due course.
“We will miss his bubbly personality that he takes onto the field, even in heated situations. He will continue to referee on the Sevens circuit. At this stage, the plan is that he will return to South Africa at the conclusion of the current Sevens World Series.”
