The World Rugby Awards are being held this coming Sunday, 13 November 2016, as the warm up act to the World Rugby Conference and Exhibition in London.
Once again, the ceremony features the award for World Rugby Referee of the Year. The shortlist, aiming to steal the crown from Nigel Owens, is as follows:
Congratulations to the shortlist:
- Alhambra Nievas, 33, of Spain, nominated for the second year running. Alhambra refereed the Olympic 7s Womens Final in Rio and has been ever present on the 7s circuit this season. She has AR duties in the forthcoming Autumn International match where she will assist Kiwi referee Nick Briant in the Tonga v USA game.
- Jerome Garces of France, also nominated for the second year in succession. Jerome, 43, has quickly taken the top spot in the French system and is often rewarded with the top appointments in the WR elite group. He’s in charge of the England v South Africa match this coming weekend
- Jaco Peyper of South Africa. Jaco, 36, has just completed his second Currie Cup Final finishing off a busy year. He kick started the RWC in 2015 and will take charge of the Ireland v New Zealand rematch in Dublin in two weeks.
- Rasta Rasivhenge, the youngest on the shortlist at 30, and also hailing from South Africa. Rasta has been a star of the 7s circuit for many years and now holds the record for matches refereed including 13 series finals. In the last thirteen months, he has refereed his first Currie Cup Final (in Oct 16), officiated in Rio at the Olympics including the mens Gold medal match, refereed his first test match (Namibia v Uganda), and blown the whistle in his debut SuperRugby season.
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