Marius Jonker - referee going places

From Zululand to Calcutta

Marius Jonker, whose progress in the world of refereeing has been rapid, has been appointed to referee the Calcutta Cup match, this year at Twickenham in the opening match of the Six Nations. What a great occasion for the young man from Zululand.

His progress in refereeing has been exceptionally fast, but then he came to rugby after a good rugby career as a flyhalf for Pietermaritzburg Police, then North Coast Rhinos of Empangeni in Zululand and then Richards Bay, where he now lives.

Marius was 31 when he started refereeing in 2000. What makes a man take up refereeing. Marius's start is rather like that of his role model André Watson. "I was still an active player when the referee in a local match in Richards Bay failed to pitch for a game. I volunteered to do the game. I was absolutely lost on the field not knowing where to stand or where to go next. I also tended to get too close to the ball and wanted to get involved. It felt like the worst performance by a referee ever but I loved the challenge and could not stay away from it."

That very first year he went to Craven Week, the provincial schools tournament in South Africa which has done so much to create opportunity for young players - and young referees. Hew was back at Craven Week in 2001.

Big progress came in 2004 when he went to the Under-19 World Championship and refereed the final.

Bigger progress came in 2005 when he made his debut in Super 12 and Currie Cup. That year, too, he refereed at the Under-21 World Championship where he refereed a semi-final.

Biggest progress came in 2006 when he refereed his first Test - Fiji vs Italy in Suva in July. The International Rugby Board have certainly given him a vote of confidence for this was followed by Ireland vs Australia in Dublin in November and then Italy vs Canada in Pordenone in Northeastern Italy.

The match at Lansdowne Road was the last Test to be played at the ground in its present state. The breakers are coming in and the builders will follow.

Now Marius goes to palatial Twickenham for the Calcutta Cup match with a history stretching back to 1878. Lots of matches have trophies attached to them but none as revered as the rupee-built Indians for the oldest international match in the world of rugby.

Who helped? "This is a question that gets you in trouble as you always forget someone but I am extremely grateful to Bell Equipment and its employers for allowing me time off to chase my dream, my family and friends, Andre Watson, Tappe Henning, Freek Burger and all my fellow referees."

Highlights as he sees them? "Refereeing Under-13 school games in Richards Bay on Wednesday afternoons (barefooted with the boys) is a weekly highlight. The Under-19 World Championship final and Under-21 World Championship semi-final. My first Super 12 game but the biggest moment without a doubt was to referee at Lansdowne Road in Ireland in one of the last tests ever to be played in the old stadium."

Philosophy? "I want to be known to be consistent, whether this is consistently good or consistently bad, and that I always give the players the best deal, fairly, on any given day and that I am willing to accept my part in mistakes made. I also believe that anything can be achieved if you have enough energy generated and in achieving your goals you need to remember that your hat always needs to fit your head."

Ambition? "To referee at the World Cup and if I get the opportunity to referee a Currie Cup Final one day. It will be fantastic!"

Fact File

Full name: Marius Jonker
Born: Kimberley on 19 June 1969
Occupation: Loss Control Manager for Bell Equipment in Richards Bay.
Family: Married to Belinda with a son Rynhardt of 6 and daughter Brenda of 13 months.
Playing career: Played first division rugby for Maritzburg Police (Pietermaritzburg),North Coast Rhinos (Empangeni) and Richards Bay Rugby Clubs as a flyhalf.
Started refereeing: 2000
Referees' Society: Zululand Referees' Society, a sub-society of KwaZulu Natal Referees' Society.
Highlights: IRB's Under-19 World Cup in 2004, IRB's Under-21 World Cup in 2005, Super 14, Currie Cup, Ireland vs Australia, the last Test at the old Lansdowne Road
First Test: Fiji vs Italy in 2006