Referees for Craven Week
The SA Referees take great trouble in appointing referees for the Craven Week each year.
Well they should, for referees competent enough are obviously required and also referees with promise enough for whom the Craven Week can be a serious stepping stone. Many top referees have come through Craven Week and many referees have made lifelong friendships though meeting and interacting at Craven Week.
It is a special time in any young referee's career.
Referees: Daniel Fortuin (Western Province), Cwengile Jadezweni (Western Province), Matt Kemp (Western Province), Jaco Kotze (Free State), Eduan Nel (Golden Lions), Tahla Simo Ntshakaza (Golden Lions), Francois Pretorius (Western Province), Lihan Pretorius (Valke), Oregopotse Rametsi (Leopards), Archie Sehlako (KwaZulu Natal).
The referees for this Craven Week are all chosen from the National Group which is just below the Elite Group of 11 referees from whom Super Rugby referees are appointed. In fact Jaco Kotze is a reserve to the Elite Group. He was the referee for the last match of the 2012 Craven Week, the match regarded as the top match and so given the referee regarded as the top referee at the Week.
Other referees who were at Craven Week in 2012 are Eduan Nel, Tahla Simo Ntshakaza, Rametsi Oregopotse and Cwengile Jadezweni.
The referees have a battery of experienced men to look after them.
Present to see their progress are André Watson, South Africa's referee manager, Tappe Henning, an IRB referee selector, Douglas Horwill, the vice-chairman of SA Referees and Pierre Oelofse, an assessor.
The manager is Gabriel Pappas, a high experienced and efficient administrator is the manager of the referees.
Limpopo referee and referees' chairman, Attie Buitendag will be the liaison officer with the referees.
