The Merit Panel of Referees to be in charge of next year’s Super 14 matches has been chosen on Monday. SANZAR is looking to use the same system in future test matches.
“It means referees will no longer be prevented from refereeing their countrymen in opposition to another nation. The move was made to ensure the best players would be refereed by the best officials.

The move to have a similar Merit Panel in charge of Test matches could be trialled next year during the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.

The panels are:

SANZAR Super 14 Merit panel: Stuart Dickinson (Australia), Matt Goddard (Australia), Marius Jonker (South Africa), Craig Joubert (South Africa), Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa), Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand), Mark Lawrence (South Africa), James Leckie (Australia), Steve Walsh (New Zealand).

Shadow Panel: Paul Marks (Australia), Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Ian Smith (Australia).

Reserve Bench: Phillip Bosch (South Africa), Keith Brown (New Zealand), Vinny Munro (New Zealand), Nathan Pearce (Australia).“

Source: planetrugby.com

Tags: referees, Rugby, Super 14