Slimmed down Super Rugby referee panel announced for 2020

• 12 strong panel includes representation from four of the five SANZAAR countries
• Jackson retired, Seconds and Briant drop out
• Peyper most experienced, with Murphy most junior
• Pod system continues
• Super Rugby to trial high tackle education law – no sanctions imposed

SANZAAR have announced the referees who will be on duty through the 2020 Super Rugby tournament. Reducing the squad from 15 to 12, the retired Glen Jackson is absent from last year’s list, as are Nick Briant from New Zealand and Egon Seconds from South Africa.

The experienced Jaco Peyper, along with AJ Jacobs, Rasta Rasivhenge and Marius van der Westhuizen are the four South African referees. New Zealand still has four referees – Ben O’Keeffe, Mike Fraser, Brendon Pcikerill and Paul Williams. Australia is represented by Nic Berry, Angus Fraser and Damon Murphy. Boli Anselmi continues to be a part of the panel, representing Argentina and will be looking to add to his 21 matches over recent years..

The 39-year-old Peyper is the most experienced referee on the panel with 106 competition matches under his belt, as well as 50 Tests.

Stellenbosch Camp

In preparation for kick-off on Friday, 31 January, the Super Rugby Refereeing Team recently held a camp in Stellenbosch, where they reviewed game management protocols from the previous year and proactively assessed the requirements for the new season, given World Rugby directives and potential Law Trials.

Game Manager – and referee boss – Lyndon Bray (pic right) said the camp was a very important aspect of the referees’ preparation for the upcoming season.

“The camp has allowed the refereeing team to continue to evolve its game plan and match management protocols, anchored by the key deliverable – how do we as referees deliver a successful Super Rugby game?” explained Bray.

“Within this is the main objective to assist the very talented players in the tournament to play their best rugby.”

According to Bray, the refereeing team had a very inspiring and thought-provoking presentation from SA Rugby Director of Rugby, Rassie Erasmus, who led the Springboks to RWC glory last year.

“There was also a presentation from SuperSport commentators, highlighting how the tournament is broadcast and promoted, and designed to help the referees to understand how they and the tournament are perceived within the sports world,” said Bray.

“The recent camp covered the way in which our refereeing teams of four (referees, assistant referees and television match officials) continue to work on getting better at making the best game decisions in the major moments of the match.

“This includes foul play, try scenarios, contestable scrums – with reduced resets – that teams who are strong at mauling from their lineout are able to use their maul and that we enable space for teams to attack with confidence.

Pod system continues

“This is a very settled referee team and is a tight-knit group of 12 referees, from across South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina. As in 2019, the referees will work in pods of four,” added Bray.

Super Rugby CEO Andy Marinos said: “Ensuring we continue to deliver world-class and best performance match officiating is hugely important to the integrity of Super Rugby.

“Super Rugby has led the way, I believe, in match officiating, but we cannot afford to be complacent. Therefore, we are constantly adapting and innovating to ensure our match officials are the best they can be.

“This year we have reduced the referee team from 15 to 12 following intense scrutiny of performance and the objectives we want to meet, as identified by the Stellenbosch camp in South Africa recently.

“This smaller, tighter referee team we believe will deliver greater consistency of performance and better critical decision-making processes to ensure Vodacom Super Rugby delivers fantastic rugby for the players and fans,” added Marinos.

Poor tackle technique to be identified

Last week, World Rugby issued the various law trials that would be trialled in various domestic competitions around the world in 2020. The trials were approved for the four-year law amendment review cycle that began after the 2019 World Cup following an analysis by the Law Review Group last March and several unions expressed interest in operating one or more of the trials.

The only trial that will be introduced to Super Rugby is the High Tackle Technique Warning. SANZAAR will be appointing a tackle technique review officer to oversee the trial.

Research has shown that the majority of concussions are caused by tacklers who tackle with an upright body. SANZAAR is focusing on implementing a process that identifies high-risk upright tackles. The shadow trial will see SANZAAR looking at all tackles each round and identifying tackles in which the tackler is in an upright body position, and in the event it is deemed the tackler has shown poor technique in executing an upright tackle, a warning may be sent to the player and player’s coach.

This process will be an educational process that will aim to educate players and coaches of high-risk behaviours by identifying poor tackle techniques and seeking to inform players of better choices they can make in the tackle zone.

This process will not impose any sanctions on players. This is not designed to penalise the player in any way but to hopefully shine a light on poor technique that has been shown to increase the risk of significant injury and attempt to affect behavioural change via education and identification

The Super Rugby referee panel for 2020

Federico Anselmi – Argentina – 21 Super Rugby matches
Nic Berry – Australia – 31
Mike Fraser – New Zealand – 60
Angus Gardner – Australia – 72
AJ Jacobs – South Africa – 8
Damon Murphy – Australia – 6
Ben O’Keeffe – New Zealand – 45
Jaco Peyper – South Africa – 106
Brendon Pickerill – New Zealand – 25
Rasta Rasivhenge – South Africa – 22
Marius van der Westhuizen – South Africa – 44
Paul Williams – New Zealand – 27