Super Refs, Rounds 9 & 10

Super Rugby moves undeviatingly onwards and already we are at Rounds 9 and 10 when in the old days of sporting seasons the rugby season would just be beginning in the Southern Hemisphere.

There is a new referee appointed – Matt O'Brien, a pharmacist from Queensland where he went playing rugby as a young man and started a business career and a refereeing career. But he is really from Invercargill at the end of New Zealand where his father lives, a famous referee – Paddy O'Brien. Like Marius van der Westhuizen who refereed his first Super Rugby match in Round 8, O'Brien came into prominence on the IRB's Sevens circuit.

There is a new TMO appointed – Marius Jonker, a much-capped Test referee.

Round 9, 11-12 April 2014

Highlanders vs Bulls at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Referee: Rohan Hoffman (Australia)

Assistant referees: Kane McBride (New Zealand),Shane McDermott (New Zealand)

Television match official: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)

Reds vs Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Referee: Steve Walsh (Australia)

Assistant referees: James Leckie (Australia), Will Houston (Australia)

Television match official: George Ayoub (Australia)

Chiefs vs Rebels Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

Referee: Matt O'Brien (Australia)

Assistant referees: Nick Briant (New Zealand), Ben O'Keefe (New Zealand)

Television match official: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

Force vs Waratahs nib Stadium, Perth

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Assistant referees: Ian Smith (Australia), Damien Mitchelmore (Australia)

Television match official: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)

Cheetahs vs Crusaders Toyota Free State XV Stadium, Bloemfontein

Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Francois de Bruin Francois (South Africa)

Television match official: Johan Greeff (South Africa)

Lions vs Sharks at Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), Stefan Breytenbach (South Africa)

Television match official: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Round 10, 18-19 April 2014

Hurricanes vs Blues at Westpac Stadium

Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand),Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)

Television match official: Chris Watt New Zealand

Rebels vs Force at AAMI Park, Christchurch

Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia)

Assistant referees: Steve Walsh (Australia), Angus Gardner (Australia)

Television match official: Steve Leszczynski (Australia)

Chiefs vs Crusaders at Waikato Stadium

Referee: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)

Television match official: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

Waratahs vs Bulls at Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Referee: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)

Assistant referees: James Leckie (Australia), Ed Martin (Australia)

Television match official: Peter Marshall (Australia)

Sharks vs Cheetahs at KINGS Park

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Marius Jonker (South Africa)

Television match official: Deon van Blommenstein (South Africa)

Stormers vs Lions at Newlands

Referee: Stuart Berry (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa) Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)