Jonathan Kaplan, the world’s most capped Test referee, has been appointed to referee the 2009 Currie Cup Final. Marius Jonker and Mark Lawrence have been appointed to the Currie Cup seminal and Craig Joubert the First Division Final – all four amongst the very top referees in the world.

Only 24 referees have refereed Currie Cup Finals since 1939. It remains the most sought-after match in South Africa for players and referees, ranking higher than many, many Tests. Kaplan for example has refereed more than ten times as many Tests as Currie Cup Finals.

This will be Kaplan’s fifth Final, putting him third on the list of referees who have refereed most Finals. André Watson with seven heads the lost followed by Steve Strydom on six. Kaplan will now pull level with Freek Burger on five.

Jimmy Smith Belton is next on three, while Piet Robbertse, Gert Bezuidenhout and Johan Gouws each refereed two Finals. The other 16 did one each.

Kaplan referees his first Final in 2002 when the Golden Lions played the Blue Bulls. Now he will have refereed four of the last five. He did not referee the Final in 2007 when he stayed longer at the World Cup than some others did.

Kaplan is delighted at the appointment which affirms his position as the top referee in South Africa.

Marius Jonker, who comes from Richard’s Bay at the top of Zululand will, referee the first seminal, the one between the Sharks and the Cheetahs in Durban while Mark Lawrence, who refereed the 2007 Currie Cup Final, will referee the semifinal at Newlands when the Blue Bulls play Western Province.

For the second time Craig Joubert, who this year refereed two Bledisloe Cup matches will referee the First Division Final between the Pumas and South Western Districts.

346 Responses to Kaplan gets Currie Cup final

  • 331

    318@ fender i live about 250 km from bloem so i dont get there often at night.

  • 332

    @bdb – 😆

  • 333

    @fender – The Beef Baron? The Woelenschlagers old it a few years back and then ………it went bang.

    Ja, still at The Mount, Chef School is run by Peter. Taken a few days off as I can’t shake this cold. Should be there Friday night and Sunday lunch, Saturday night I might just call in sick.

  • 334

    @AB – soos ek vir my ma-hulle gesê het. Universiteit is ‘n loopbaan nie ‘n renbaan nie.

  • 335

    @Ashley – Ek dink dit sal erger raak. Maar ek steur my in elk geval nie wat mense se nie. Die span sal speel ongeag wat mense op blogs van hulle se. DIt is buite ons hande. EK hoop net dat Nuweland skare die province manne sal aanspoor.

  • 336

    321@WitenBlou – jy is reg, my grootste bekommernis is dat die bal nie rond is nie, en dus enige kant toe kan hop oppie dag.

  • 337

    @bdb – Ja dit het Vrystaat ons gewys so n klompie jare terug op Roftus!

  • 338

    @bdb – Wat dink julle van Lawrence?

  • 339

    335@WitenBlou – en solank die skare nie die BB boe nie, is daar hoop vir die WP.

  • 340

    @bdb – goue reel in rugby….moenie dat die bal hop nie.

  • 341

    @WitenBlou – sy beste vertoning was in Lawrence of Arabia, maar sy ander vertonings was nie te goed nie.

    340: verseker, en die tweede reël: as die opponente vinnige opkom, spring altyd in die lug as jy die bal wil vang. Ek het hierdie jaar al baie keer gesien hoe spanne die bal so verloor, omdat ‘n speler nie in die lug spring om die bal te vang nie.

  • 342

    #333 Loosehead

    The Beef Baron – that’s it!! Thanks man, the name was bugging me…

    But those bros ran a tight ship. It must have been difficult for the new owners to live up the standards those two set. Come to think of it, the place was as much about their two persona’s as it was about the food.

    I popped in last Wednesday to catch Rupert and a bite to eat. I was toying with the idea of the Warthog special but settled for a steak instead. Rupert was in fine form…as usual.

    Ja, I don’t blame you about Saturday night. Who wants to work when your team has upset the odds, hey? And I won’t be surprised if the Cheetahs spring a surprise.

  • 343

    342@fender – I must say that the Beff Baron made the finest steaks and the best snails. Our Warthog is good, I had it on Friday night. I am currently on veggies and sauces so you had better have enjoyed them!

    I think that we should arrange a Rugby-Talk drinks evening at The Mount? Quite a few of the bloggers live in the Northern Suburbs. What do you think?

  • 344

    #343 Loosehead

    I’ll be very happy to meet the Northern Talkers. Please make it a Friday or Saturday – my week nights are a mess.

    Who are the guys that stay out our way?

  • 345

    @fender – SA Barbarians, King Paul, Boerboel…….I will ask GBS to let me know which of the bloggers are from CT.

  • 346

    #345 Loosehead

    Kwaai! Count me in…

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