The referees for the first 6 weeks of Super Rugby in 2012 has been announced by SANZAR.

Some interesting appointments indeed.

Let the games begin!

Here’s a Schedule as well as the official Statement, as received via Media Release.

Shedule:

DAY & DATE                             MATCH                                 VENUE    Local Time

Referee

AR1

AR2

TMO

WEEK 1

1.Friday 24 February Blues v Crusaders Auckland 19:35 Chris Pollock Glen Jackson Mike Fraser Vinny Munro
2.Friday 24 February Brumbies v Force Canberra 19:40 Garratt Williamson Andrew Lees James Leckie Matt Goddard
3.Friday 24 February Bulls v Sharks Pretoria 19:10 Jonathan Kaplan Pro Legoete Tiaan Jonker Gerrie Coetzee
4.Saturday 25 February Chiefs v Highlanders Hamilton 19:35 Jonathon White Vinny Munro Nick Briant Bryce Lawrence
5.Saturday 25 February Waratahs v Reds Sydney 19:40 Jaco Peyper Ian Smith Angus Gardner George Ayoub
6.Saturday 25 February Stormers v Hurricanes Cape Town 17:05 Marius Jonker Stuart Berry Cobus Wessels Shaun Veldsman
7.Saturday 25 February Lions v Cheetahs Johannesburg 19:10 Mark Lawrence Sindile Mayende Stefan Breytenbach Johann Meuwesen
BYES: REBELS

WEEK 2

8.Friday 2 March Chiefs v Blues Hamilton 19:35 Keith Brown Jonathon White Richard Kelly Nick Briant
9.Friday 2 March Rebels v Waratahs Melbourne 19:40 Bryce Lawrence Andrew Lees Angus Gardner Matt Goddard
10.Friday 2 March Lions v Hurricanes Johannesburg 19:10 Steve Walsh Lourens VD Merwe Ben Crouse Shaun Veldsman
11.Saturday 3 March Highlanders v Crusaders Dunedin 19:35 Jaco Peyper Vinny Munro Kane McBride Keith Brown
12.Saturday 3 March Reds v Force Brisbane 18:40 Glen Jackson Ian Smith Simon Moore Steve Leszczynski
13.Saturday 3 March Cheetahs v Bulls Bloemfontein 17:05 Craig Joubert Marius Jonker Reuben Roussouw Johann Meuwesen
14. Saturday 3 March Stormers v Sharks Cape Town 19:10 Mark Lawrence Jason Jatha Christie Du Preez Gerrie Coetzee
BYES: BRUMBIES

WEEK 3

15.Friday 9 March Crusaders v Chiefs Napier 19:35 Garratt Williamson Mike Fraser Nick Briant Richard Kelly
16.Friday 9 March Force v Hurricanes Perth 19:05 Jaco Peyper Andrew Lees Simon Moore Matt Goddard
17.Saturday 10 March Brumbies v Cheetahs Canberra 15:35 Keith Brown Angus Gardner Julian Pritchard George Ayoub
18.Saturday 10 March Highlanders v Waratahs Dunedin 19:35 Bryce Lawrence Vinny Munro Garratt Williamson Kane McBride
19.Saturday 10 March Reds v Rebels Brisbane 19:40 Ian Smith Damien Mitchelmore Rohan Hoffman Steve Leszczynski
20.Saturday 10 March Sharks v Lions Durban 17:05 Mark Lawrence Quinton Immelman Marc van Zyl Johann Meuwesen
21.Saturday 10 March Bulls v Blues Pretoria 19:10 Steve Walsh Pro Legoete Phillip Bosch Gerrie Coetzee
BYES: STORMERS

WEEK 4

22.Friday 16 March Chiefs v Brumbies Tauranga 19:35 Ian Smith Vinny Munro Nick Briant Shane McDermott
23.Friday 16 March Stormers v Blues Cape Town 19:10 Glen Jackson Jaco Peyper Stefan Breytenbach Johann Meuwesen
24.Saturday 17 March Hurricanes v Highlanders Wellington 19:35 Bryce Lawrence Keith Brown Mike Fraser Richard Kelly
25.Saturday 17 March Waratahs v Force Sydney 19:40 Jonathon White Steve Walsh Angus Gardner George Ayoub
26.Saturday 17 March Sharks v Reds Durban 17:05 Jonathan Kaplan Mark Lawrence Cobus Wessels Shaun Veldsman
27.Sunday 18 March Rebels v Cheetahs Melbourne 16:10 Garratt Williamson Andrew Lees James Leckie Steve Leszczynski
Steve

WEEK 5

28.Friday 23 March Blues v Hurricanes Auckland 19:35 Steve Walsh Bryce Lawrence Jonathon White Ben Skeen
29.Friday 23 March Rebels v Force Melbourne 19:40 Marius Jonker Angus Gardner Andrew Lees Matt Goddard
30.Saturday 24 March Waratahs v Sharks Sydney 15:35 Chris Pollock Ian Smith James Leckie Matt Goddard
31.Saturday 24 March Crusaders v Cheetahs TBC 19:35 Keith Brown Garratt Williamson Matthew Muir Vinny Munro
32.Saturday 24 March Brumbies v Highlanders Canberra 19:40 Mark Lawrence Marius Jonker Simon Moore Steve Leszczynski
33.Saturday 24 March Bulls v Reds Pretoria 17:05 Jonathan Kaplan Lourens VD Merwe Stefan Breytenbach Shaun Veldsman
34.Saturday 24 March Lions v Stormers Johannesburg 19:10 Glen Jackson Stuart Berry Christie Du Preez Gerrie Coetzee
BYES: CHIEFS

WEEK 6 (Daylight Savings ends in Australia and New Zealand)

35.Friday 30 March Highlanders v Rebels Invercargill 19:35 Marius Jonker Vinny Munro Matthew Muir Kane McBride
36.Saturday 31 March Hurricanes v Cheetahs Wellington 17:30 Ian Smith Chris Pollock Richard Kelly Mike Fraser
37.Saturday 31 March Chiefs v Waratahs Hamilton 19:35 Mark Lawrence Jonathon White Sheldon Eden-­‐Whaitiri Shane McDermott
38.Saturday 31 March Brumbies v Sharks Canberra 19:40 Keith Brown Angus Gardner James Leckie Matt Goddard
39.Saturday 31 March Force v Reds Perth 18:40 Bryce Lawrence Steve Walsh Andrew Lees George Ayoub
40.Saturday 31 March Lions v Crusaders Johannesburg 17:05 Jonathan Kaplan Lourens VD Merwe Phillip Bosch Johann Meuwesen
41.Saturday 31 March Stormers v Bulls Cape Town 19:10 Craig Joubert Stuart Berry Cobus Wessels Shaun Veldsman
BYES: BLUES

 

The contents of the Media Release reads as follows:

SANZAR today revealed the referee appointments for the first six rounds of the 2012 Super Rugby season, kicking off on Friday February 24th.

–       Referees spent four days in training in Coogee, Sydney in January

–       ‘Big Five’ priorities a key focus for SANZAR

–       New technology to improve technique and accuracy

–       Five new referees introduced to Super Rugby in 2012

Chris Pollock will kick off the season overseeing the opening round one and 2012 clash between the Blues and the Crusaders at Eden Park on February 24th (KO: 19h40 local), a fixture which marks the beginning of the New Zealand Conference.

Across in Canberra, Garrett Williamson will control the match between the Brumbies and Force (KO: 19h35 local) to open the Australian Conference; while later that evening Jonathan Kaplan will officiate the match between the Bulls and Sharks in Pretoria (KO: 19h10 local) to start the South African Conference.

SANZAR Game Manager Lyndon Bray was excited in releasing the first appointments for 2012, having just spent a very meaningful four days in camp with the SANZAR Referee Team, at Coogee Beach in Sydney during January.

Bray said key points for the first six rounds of Super Rugby were a continuation of handling the ‘Big 5’ priorities consistently, looking to continuously improve performance on the field and to make the game easy to play, referee and understand (as spectators).

“There has been a real commitment by our team to look to improve on our overall outcomes and deliver our best possible performance every time we run out onto the field.  We have spent considerable money and time on new technology to support the guys off the field, now we are coming to the time, like the teams, when we need to put the performance on the field.  I know the guys can’t wait for the season to start.”

SANZAR and Bray were looking forward to committing to weekly reviews of the ‘Big 5’ priorities, with more details regarding the new initiative to be released in the coming days.

Bray confirmed that SANZAR has some new game footage technology, which improves the ability to share game clips not only with referees, but also with teams.

“We have created some new ways to share game clips and footage that helps both referees and players to amend technique and improve accuracy in their performance.  These tools will aid our review of games and allow us to provide more meaningful feedback to the referees and to the team coaches.  The bottom line is that we want to continue the trend of the last couple of years, and keep getting better, not only as individuals, but across the whole referee team.”

This year sees five new referees (Mike Fraser NZ, Angus Gardner & Andrew Lees AUS, Lourens van der Merwe & Stuart Berry SA) introduced to the Super Rugby, and they will enter the competition as the right time arrives.

“The management team has to make astute decisions about the timing of appointing the new guys in the middle, and what game would best suit them.  It is the same dilemma that confronts the team coaches as they look to introduce new players onto the field.  Sometimes injury or loss of form by others helps make that decision!”

Bray added that there are some key referees for the future that will be closely measured early on, to monitor progress.

“Jaco Peyper had a big year in 2011 and we are going to really push him early, and gauge where he is at.  This could be a really good year for him.  Glen Jackson is also one for the future and our plan is to run him more in 2012.  In the middle of our Merit Panel, there are several guys who I am sure would love to put some pressure on the guys at the top of the tree at the moment.  It is all healthy competition.”

One Response to Super Rugby: Referees for first 6 weeks announced

  • 1

    Thank fark Bryce Lawrence isn’t blowing any of the games with saffa teams in. What a plonker he is. They must be worried over his wellbeing.

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