Watson in Hall of Fame
André Watson, South Africa’s refereeing boss and an outstanding referee in his day, has again been honoured, this time by being inducted into South Africa’s Sport Hall of Fame.
Previously Watson (pictured, right with wife Antionette) had received, amongst other awards, a silver Presidential Sports Award from President Thabo Mbeki at a banquet at Tuynhuis in Cape Town in 2001.
In 2008 at the IRB Awards banquet he received a special award for services to refereeing. This time he was inducted into the South African Sport Hall of Fame, the only referee so honoured but then he is the only referee to have refereed two World Cup Finals and he is the referee who has refereed most Currie Cup Finals (7) and most Super rugby Finals (5).
The award was made at a gala dinner at the Emperor’s Palace near the airport in Johannesburg. The official partner of the Sport Hall of Fame is the SABC.
In telling referees about this honour, Steve Meintjes, the chairman of South African referees said: “I am sure you wall all join me in congratulating André for the meritorious service he has given to SA Rugby and obviously to rugby refereeing. Over the years André has been a true ambassador for the sport and for SA Rugby.”
This is the third year the awards have been made. They cover all sports and include administrators and a category called contributors.
In 2006 the following rugby men were inducted: the 1995 team that won the World Cup (Team Category); Naas Botha, Danie Craven, Morné du Plessis, Frik du Preez, Hennie Muller and François Pienaar and, as a rugby league player, Tom van Vollenhoven, who scored a hat-trick of tries at Newlands against the 1955 Lions.
In 2007 the rugby men so honoured were Danie Gerber, Bennie Osler and Joost van der Westhuizen.
In 2008, the rugby men honoured were the 1937 Springbok team Watson, Abdullah Abass and Paul Roos. Dullah Abass was the president of SARU in the difficult days and Roos was the captain of the 1906-07 Springboks, the first team to be called the Springboks. The 1937 Springboks were the first team to win a series in New Zealand.
The full list of inductees:
Athletics: Elana Meyer, Paul Nash, John van Reenen.
Baseball: Raymond Tew
Body building: Reg Park
Boxing: Andrew Jephtha, Laurie Stevens.
Canoeing: Ian Player
Contributor: Nelson Mandela, Bud Mbelle, the brother-in-law of Sol Plaatjies and player in the first Rhodes Trophy in 1896, Elizabeth Pongola, Dan Twala.
Cricket: Eddie Barlow, Allan Donald, Krom Hendricks.
Cycling: Laurens Meintjes
Hockey: Minnie Isaacs
Judo: Lorraine Job, Patrick Stevenson.
Marathon: Ken McArthur, Mark Plaatjes.
Paralympics: Danie Erasmus, Margaret Harriman.
Soccer: Andrew Albertyn, Vusi Makatini, Ramanna Naidoo.
Swimming: Morgan Naidoo
Tennis: Yvette Peterson, Greer Stevens
Wrestling: Manie van Zyl
Media: Peter Bacela, Jeremy Fredericks, Jan Hamman, Dale Hayes, Denis Hutchinson, Russell MacMillan, Zama ‘ZZ’ Masondo, Molefi Mika, Wessel Oosthuizen, Imtiaz Patel, Koos Radebe, Dan Retief, Gert Roets, Maseru Koaho, Joe Visagie, Gerhard Viviers.
