IRB appointments for Marlize Jordaan, Freek Burger

Oct 16 • International, National, Womens Rugby, World Rugby • 4450 Views • Comments Off on IRB appointments for Marlize Jordaan, Freek Burger

Marlize Jordaan running the lines in a recent ABSA Currie CUp U21 game between the Toyota Free State Cheetahs vs Vodacom Blue Bulls. Photo by Morgan Piek /Rugby15,

Marlize Jordaan, a former SA Women’s representative, has been selected on the panel for Sevens referees by the International Rugby Board (IRB).

The IRB announced its female referee panels for 2012/13 as preparation continues towards Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013 in Moscow and Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014 in France.

Meanwhile, former Test referee Freek Burger has been appointed as Citing Commissioner for four Tests in the forthcoming international window, namely France v Australia (Nov 10), England v Australia (Nov 17), Italy v Australia (Nov 24) and England v New Zealand (Dec 1).

Jordaan, who played at outside centre and wing for South Africa, is one of nine referees selected on the Sevens panel. The full Fifteens panel consists of seven women referees.

“This is a truly magnificent achievement for the South African Rugby Referees Association,” said André Watson, General Manager of Referees at the South African Rugby Union.

“Marlize’s success as a referee stems from very hard work from her side, but is also thanks to the dedication of all those involved with the uplifting and enhancement of women referees. We are very proud of her.”

The 2012/13 season will see the full introduction of the IRB Game Analysis Unit into women’s Sevens with the referees now reviewed and analysed on exactly the same terms as their male counterparts.

These panels have been selected following an extensive and ongoing commitment by the IRB to improve standards of officiating. Seven out of the nine Sevens referees have previously benefited from IRB training programs, four have been to the annual IRB Sevens development workshop in Dubai and three attended the rigorous TOP programmes in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

The full Fifteens panel is: Sylvie Bros (France), Clare Daniels (England), Claire Hodnett (England), Nicky Inwood (New Zealand), Dana Teagarden (USA) and Sherry Trumbull (Canada).

The Sevens panel consists of: Leah Berard (USA), Sylvie Bros (France), Itziar Diaz (Spain), Marlize Jordaan (South Africa), Gabriel Lee (Hong Kong), Amy Perrett (Australia), Dana Teagarden (USA), Sherry Trumbull (Canada) and Brigitte Tyler (New Zealand).