Burger goes to World Cup
Freek Burger, the former Test referee and manager of South African referees, has been appointed a citing commissioner at the Rugby World Cup, hosted by England, starting in September 2015.
At one stage Burger held the South African record for Tests refereed, in years when it was just 10, as opportunities for South African referees were few. (It is now 70 for Jonathan Kaplan) Burger’s last Test was England vs New Zealand at Twickenham in 1994.
He was chosen as a referee in 1987 and again in 1991 but was withdrawn because South Africa was not taking part. In 1995, when there were referees from all participating countries, he was appointed as the manager of referees while South Africa’s referees were Stef Neethling and Ian Rogers.
Then, till his retirement in 2007, Burger was the first manager of referees in the new professional dispensation and set about making South Africa’s referees the fittest in the world, which paid off most obviously when André Watson refereed the World Cup finals in 199 and 2003.
When Burger retired Watson took over his position and in 2008 he started as a citing commissioner.
In addition to many Super Rugby and Currie Cup matches, Burger has been the citing commissioner at some 50 Tests, including matches in Australia, Argentina and the UK.
He says of his appointment to this year’s World Cup: “I feel as excited as when I was appointed to referee a Test.”
Courtesy of SA Referees
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