SA refs' panels for 2009

The South African Referees’ Committee has announced the panels of referees for 2009, starting with the National Panel which has five new referees.

The National Panel, which is South Africa’s top panel, has been enlarged from 10 to 12. New on the top panel are Jaco Peyper, Joey Salmans, Stuart Berry, Sindile Mayende and Jason Jaftha. JC Fortuin, Deon van Blommestein and Christie du Preez are no longer on the panel. Fortuin has become a television match official, Du Preez an assistant referee.

Jonathan Kaplan is still South Africa’s top-ranked referee, which is hardly surprising for the referee who has refereed more Tests than any one else in the history of the game.

On the panels André Watson, South Africa’s refereeing manager, said: “I am confident that these merit panels will take us into the medium future with confidence. Consistent performances have been rewarded and that’s what competition is all about.

“I want to thank the selection committee for their work done and congratulate them on what I believe is a great squad of referees that will realise our aim, which is to provide the best possible service to our customers who are the teams and spectators.

“Congratulations to those that were promoted and I want to ensure them all of our utmost attention at all times.”

The panels are as follows:

National Panel (Top 12) (in merit order)

1. Jonathan Kaplan (SARU)
2. Mark Lawrence (SARU)
3. Marius Jonker (SARU)
4. Craig Joubert (SARU)
5. Phillip Bosch (SARU)
6. Pro Legoete (SARU)
7. Willie Roos (SARU)
8. Jaco Peyper (SARU)
9. Joey Salmans (SARU)
10. Stuart Berry (SARU)
11. Sindile Mayende (SARU)
12. Jason Jaftha (SARU)

Lourens van der Merwe and François Veldsman are reserves to the National Panel, as Jaco Peyper and Joey Salmans were in 2008.

Provincial Panel 12 (in merit order)

This panel has been reduced from 16 to 12.

Of the 2008 panel Jaco Peyper, Joey Salmans, Sindile Mayende, Stuart Berry and Jason Jaftha have moved up to the National panel.

New on the Provincial Panel are Luke Burger, Ben Crouse, Bongani Maloni and Dilbert November.

1. Lourens van der Merwe (Free State)
2. François Veldsman (Boland)
3. Gareth Lloyd-Jones (Western Province)
4. Archie Sehlako (Natal)
5. Tiaan Jonker (Golden Lions)
6. Mlungiseli Mdashe (Valke)
7. Matt Kemp (Western Province)
8. Mtheleli Msileni (Eastern Province)
9. Luke Burger (Blue Bulls)
10. Ben Crouse (Blue Bulls)
11. Bongani Maloni (Border)
12. Dilbert November (South Western Districts)

Richard Ingram, Lusanda Jam, Sewes Terblanche, Petri Bosch and Quinton Immelman are reserves for the Provincial Panel.

Contenders Squad (Top 5 ranked; thereafter in alphabetical order)

New contenders are Lusanda Jam, François Groenewald, Rhala Mkhaleli, Gladile Mveliso, and Lihan Pretorius.
 
 Merit order:
 
1. Richard Ingram (Natal)
2. Lusanda Jam (Border)
3. Sewes Terblanche (Blue Bulls)
4. Petri Bosch (Griquas)
5. Quinton Immelman (Western Province)

Alphabetical order

Jimmy Aphane (Blue Bulls)
Rodney Bonaparte (Eastern Province)
François de Bruin (Griquas)
François Groenewald (Western Province)
Martin Lekhanye (Free State)
Willie Killian (Leopards)
Rhala Mkhaleli (Leopards)
Gladile Mveliso (Border)
Theshin Naicker (Natal)
Craig Palmer (Golden Lions)
Lihan Pretorius (Golden Lions)
Andries Retief (Pumas)
LJ Swart (Leopards)
Jan Venter (Blue Bulls)

Candidates (alphabetical):

Gerrie de Bruin (Blue Bulls)
Tony Duminy (Border)
De Goede Haasbroek (Griquas)
Charlton Isaacs (Boland)
Riaan Janse van Vuuren (Pumas)
Sakkie Meyer (Free State)
Hentie Nel (Leopards)
Thembinkosi Nondyola (Eastern Province)
François Pretorius (Western Province)
Rusta Rahivenga (Golden Lions)
Wayne Robertson (South Western Districts)
Ian Smith (Eastern Province)
Jacob Smith (Boland)
Amos Swartz (Border)
Jocelyn Tucker (Blue Bulls)
Marius van der Westhuizen (Western Province)
Jaco van Heerden (Blue Bulls)
Sieg van Staden (Valke)
Pieter van Vuuren (Free State)
Gustav van Wyk (Boland)
Pieter White (Pumas)

Women’s Panel (merit order)

The Women’s Panel has increased from seven to nine. New on the panel are Magda van der Heever and Marlize Jordaan.

1. Kim Smit (Golden Lions)
2. Eugenia Daniels (Western Province)
3. Madel Herselman (Golden Lions)
4. Sipokazi Njani (Border)
5. Eska Swart (South Western Districts)
6. Roslyn Fortuin (Boland)
7. Lize Els (Golden Lions)
8. Magda van der Heever (Pumas)
9. Marlize Jordaan (Free State)

Women’s Contender’s Squad (alphabetical):

Melany Duthie (South Western Districts)
Sanet Ludick (Leopards)
 
Specialised Assistant Referees’ Panel (alphabetical)

Cobus Wessels is on the IRB’s panel of specialised assistant referees while Reuben Rossouw is a nominee for the IRB’s specialised panel of assistant referees.

New on the panel of assistant referees are Christie du Preez.

1. Peet Badenhorst (Golden Lions)
2. Roderick Barry (Western Province)
3. Mandla Dakuse (Border)
4. Christie du Preez (Eastern Province)
5. Linston Manuels (Boland)
6. Reuben Rossouw (Natal)
7. Cobus Wessels (South Western Districts)
8. Fumanekile Yamile (Eastern Province)
9. Marc van Zyl (Western Province)

TMO panel (alphabetical)

Johann Meuwesen, Shaun Veldsman and, as a reserve, Michael Cupido are Super 14 TMOs.

Jenny Bentel has retired while Gerrie Coetzee and JC Fortuin have come onto it.

1. Gerrie Coetzee (Free State)
2. Michael Cupido (Golden Lions)
3. JC Fortuin (Western Province)
4. Johann Meuwesen (Eastern Province)
5. Shaun Veldsman (Boland)