Wildeklawer Referees
SA Referees have announced the match officials for the Wildeklawer Super Schools Rugby Tournament in Kimberley later this month. There are 13 referees and five coaches.
The tournament includes rugby and netball and not just the first teams.
The Wildeklawer is a household name in South Africa already though this is only the seventh such tournament. It invites top teams and is to many seen as a sort of championship.
Taking part in this year's first team rugby are Affies (Pretoria), Boland Landbou (Paarl), Glenwood (Durban), Grey College (Bloemfontein), HTS Louis Botha (Bloemfontein), Noord-Kaap (Kimberley), Dr EG Jansen (Boksburg), HTS Middelburg, Menlopark (Pretoria), Monument (Krugersdorp), Paarl Boys' High, Paarl Gim, Oakdale (Riversdale), Selborne (East London and Waterkloof (Pretoria). There is also a SARU XV.
The referees appointed to the tournament are: Johre Botha (Valke), Darren Colby (Free State), Gerrie de Bruin (Bulls), Casper Heymans (Griffons), Pieter Janse van Vuuren (Free State), Mpho Matsaung (Griquas), Paul Mente (Leopards), Godwill Morobe (Leopards), Eduan Nel (Golden Lions), Lihan Pretorius (Valke), Nico Schmahl (Griquas), Tiaan Steyn (Free State), Jeff van Rooyen (Griquas).
Botha and Mente are on the SA Referees Contenders Squad. Matsaung is a former provincial player, now in charge of amateur rugby in Griquas. Both Pretorius, who was off injured last year, De Bruin and Nel have been on the National Panel of referees. Of the others Morobe and Schmahl refereed Community Cup matches this year.
The coaches appointed to the tournament are Deon van Blommestein, Abe Steenberg, Johan Zurich, Fumanekile Yamile and Philip du Toit.
Steenberg, Zurich, Yamile and Du Toit are Regional Academy Managers, posts created recently to keep an eye on refereeing in groups of provinces. Van Blommestein was a top referee and is now a TMO with international experience and an assessor.
