Refs appointed for Super Rugby
SANZAR has announced the appointments of match officials for the first six weeks of Super Rugby this year. Chris Pollock will blow the first whistle of the 2012 Super 15 when he referees the Blues and the Crusaders at Eden Park.
Five new referees are being brought into Super Rugby this year – Mike Fraser of New Zealand, Angus Gardner and Andrew Lees of Australia and Lourens van der Merwe and Stuart Berry of South Africa.
It is strange not to see Stuart Dickinson’s name there. After refereeing more Super Rugby matches than anybody else he has retired.
SANZAR’s refereeing boss, Lyndon Bray, said: “The management team has to make astute decisions about the timing of appointing the new guys in the middle, and what game would best suit them. It is the same dilemma that confronts the team coaches as they look to introduce new players onto the field. Sometimes injury or loss of form by others helps make that decision!”
Bray added that there were some key referees for the future that would be closely measured early on, to monitor progress.
He said: “Jaco Peyper had a big year in 2011 and we are going to really push him early, and gauge where he is at. This could be a really good year for him. Glen Jackson is also one for the future and our plan is to run him more in 2012.
“In the middle of our Merit Panel, there are several guys who I am sure would love to put some pressure on the guys at the top of the tree at the moment. It is all healthy competition,” added Bray.
The Appointments
Week 1
Blues vs Crusaders in Auckland
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Brumbies vs Force in Canberra
Referee: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Andrew Lees (Australia), James Leckie (Australia)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Bulls vs Sharks in Pretoria
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Pro Legoete (South Africa), Tiaan Jonker (South Africa)
Television match official: Gerrie Coetzee (South Africa)
Chiefs vs Highlanders in Hamilton
in Jonathon White (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Television match official: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Waratahs vs Reds in Sydney
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Ian Smith (Australia), Angus Gardner (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Stormers vs Hurricanes at Newlands
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Lions vs Cheetahs in Johannesburg
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Sindile Mayende (South Africa), Stefan Breytenbach (South Africa)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
Week 2
Chiefs vs Blues in Hamilton
Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Jonathon White (New Zealand), Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
Television match official: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Rebels vs Waratahs in Melbourne
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Andrew Lees (Australia), Angus Gardner (Australia)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Lions vs Hurricanes in Johannesburg
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa), Ben Crouse (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Highlanders vs Crusaders in Dunedin
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Kane Brown (New Zealand) (New Zealand)
Television match official: Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Reds vs Force in Brisbane
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ian Smith (Australia), Simon Moore (Australia)
Television match official: Andrew Lees (Australia)
Cheetahs vs Bulls in Bloemfontein
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Marius Jonker (South Africa), Reuben Rossouw (South Africa)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
Stormers vs Sharks at Newlands
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jason Jaftha (South Africa), Christie du Preez (South Africa)
Television match official: Gerrie Coetzee (South Africa)
Week 3
Crusaders vs Chiefs in Napier
Referee: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Television match official: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
Force vs Hurricanes in Perth
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Andrew Lees (Australia), Simon Moore (Australia)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Brumbies vs Cheetahs in Canberra
Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Julian Pritchard (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Highlanders vs Waratahs in Dunedin
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Television match official: Kane McBride (New Zealand)
Reds vs Rebels in Brisbane
Referee: Ian Smith (Australia)
Assistant referees: Damien Mitchelmore (Australia), Rohan Hoffman (Australia)
Television match official: Steve Lesczcynski (Australia)
Sharks vs Lions in Durban
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Quinton Immelman (South Africa), Marc van Zyl (South Africa)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
Bulls vs Blues in Pretoria
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Pro Legoete (South Africa), Phillip Bosch (South Africa)
Television match official: Gerrie Coetzee (South Africa)
Week 4
Chiefs vs Brumbies in Tauranga 19:35
Referee: Ian Smith (Australia)
Assistant referees: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Television match official: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
Stormers vs Blues at Newlands
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Stefan Breytenbach (South Africa)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
Hurricanes vs Highlanders in Wellington
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Keith Brown, Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Television match official: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
Waratahs vs Force in Sydney
Referee: Jonathon White (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), Angus Gardner (Australia)
George Ayoub (Australia)
Sharks vs Reds in Durban
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Mark Lawrence (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Rebels vs Cheetahs in Melbourne
Referee: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Andrew Lees (Australia), James Leckie (Australia)
Television match official: Steve Lesczcynski (Australia)
Week 5
Blues vs Hurricanes in Auckland
Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)
Assistant referees: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Jonathon White (New Zealand)
Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
Rebels vs Force in Melbourne
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Andrew Lees (Australia)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Waratahs vs Sharks in Sydney
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ian Smith (Australia), James Leckie (Australia)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Crusaders vs Cheetahs
Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Matthew Muir (New Zealand)
Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Brumbies vs Highlanders in Canberra
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Marius Jonker (South Africa), Simon Moore (Australia)
Television match official: Steve Lesczcynski (Australia)
Bulls vs Reds in Pretoria
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa), Stefan Breytenbach (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Lions vs Stormers in Johannesburg
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry (South Africa), Christie du Preez (South Africa)
Television match official: Gerrie Coetzee (South Africa)
Week 6
Highlanders vs Rebels in Invercargill
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Matthew Muir (New Zealand)
Television match official: Kane McBride (New Zealand)
Hurricanes vs Cheetahs in Wellington
Referee: Ian Smith (Australia)
Assistant referees: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Richard Kelly (New Zealand)
Television match official: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Chiefs vs Waratahs in Hamilton
Referee: Mark Lawrence (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Jonathon White (New Zealand), Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri (New Zealand)
Television match official: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
Brumbies vs Sharks in Canberra
Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), James Leckie (Australia)
Television match official: Matt Goddard (Australia)
Force vs Reds in Perth
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), Andrew Lees (Australia)
Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)
Lions vs Crusaders in Johannesburg
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa), Phillip Bosch (South Africa)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (South Africa)
Stormers vs Bulls at Newlands
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry (South Africa), Cobus Wessels (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
