As exclusively reported by The South African website, the Springboks will be officiated by six different referees in their six Rugby Championship matches in 2024.
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The world champion Springboks began their campaign with a resounding 33-7 win over Australia at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday, with England’s Luke Pearce in charge of that encounter.
The two sides then did battle once again in Perth on Saturday, 17 August where New Zealand’s Paul Williams had the whistle at the Optus Stadium.
The Springboks won that clash 30-12.
Meanwhile, Ireland’s Andrew Brace will referee the Springboks’ first Test against the All Blacks at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday, 31 August.
Kick-off is scheduled for 17:00.
Brace will be assisted by England’s Matthew Carley and Australia’s Jordan Way, while Ireland’s Brian MacNeice will be on TMO duty.
South Africa have a decent record when being officiated by Brace having won three of the four Tests the 36-year-old has taken charge of.
Meanwhile, Matt Carley (England) will take charge of the Springboks’ second Test against New Zealand in Cape Town on Saturday, 7 September.
Finally, England’s Christophe Ridley, who makes his debut in the tournament this season, will officiate the match between the Springboks and Argentina in Santiago (21 September), while Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand) will be the man in the middle in the team’s closing match of the tournament against Los Pumas at the Mbombela Stadium in Mbombela (28 September).
For the full list of Rugby Championship appointments click here
No South African referees
As reported by The South African website, the absence of any South African referees in this year’s Rugby Championship was the big talking point when World Rugby announced the officials for this year’s tournament.
The 12 matches will be refereed by four England referees, three from New Zealand and one each from Australia, Italy, Ireland, France and Georgia.
In addition, there were no appointments for South Africans as assistant referees either.
The only South African who will be in action will be Marius Jonker who will be on TMO duty in two matches (neither featuring the Springboks of course).
SPRINGBOK RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP OFFICIALS
| Australia v South Africa Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Saturday, 10 August |
Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Hollie Davidson (SRU) TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU) |
| Australia v South Africa Optus Stadium, Perth Saturday, 17 August |
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: Luke Pearce (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Hollie Davidson (SRU) TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR) |
| South Africa v New Zealand Ellis Park, Johannesburg Saturday, 31 August |
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU) Assistant Referee 1: Matthew Carley (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Way (RA) TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU) |
| South Africa v New Zealand Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town Saturday, 7 September |
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Brace (IRFU) Assistant Referee 2: Jordan Way (RA) TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU) |
| Argentina v South Africa Estadio Unico Madre de Cludades, Santiago del Estero Saturday, 21 September |
Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU) Assistant Referee 1: Matt Carley (RFU) Assistant Referee 2: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR) TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU) |
| South Africa v Argentina Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela Saturday, 28 September |
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) Assistant Referee 1: James Doleman (NZR) Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (WRU) TMO: Glenn Newman (NZR) |
SPRINGBOK SQUAD FOR THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP 2024
FORWARDS
Ben-Jason Dixon (Stormers), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Thomas du Toit (Bath), Eben Etzebeth (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls), Vincent Koch (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Siya Kolisi (captain – Racing 92), Elrigh Louw (Bulls), Frans Malherbe (Stormers), Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Bongi Mbonambi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Salmaan Moerat (Stormers), Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Ruan Nortje (Bulls), Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs), RG Snyman (Leinster), Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Jan-Hendrik Wessels (Bulls)
BACKS
Lukhanyo Am (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Kurt-Lee Arendse (Bulls), Damian de Allende (Wild Knights), Aphelele Fassi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (Stormers), Cheslin Kolbe (Suntory Sungoliath), Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles), Willie le Roux (Bulls), Makazole Mapimpi (Hollywoodbets Sharks), Manie Libbok (Stormers), Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Cobus Reinach (Montpellier), Morne van den Berg (Lions), Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks)
