Lawrence to ref Currie Cup Final

Mark Lawrence has been appointed to referee the 2011 Currie Cup Final at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg, on October 29.

It will be the second time that Lawrence will have refereed a Currie Cup Final. The first time was a Free State Stadium when the Free State Cheetahs played the Golden Lions in 2007.

Lawrence, of Standerton in Mpumalanga, only recently retired from refereeing international rugby.

André Watson, South Africa's Referees' Manager, said of the appointment: "Mark has consistently been one of the best referees in South Africa, if not the world, and his appointment to the Currie Cup Final is just reward for his superb performances not only this season, but throughout his career.

"The decision has not been easy as we are blessed with some very good referees who are capable of refereeing finals. The performances of Marius Jonker and Jaco Peyper in the semi-finals are testimony to this."

There are two other finals on the same day and at the same venue.

Quinton Immelman of Western Province will referee the Under-21 Final between the Blue Bulls and the Sharks and Tiaan Jonker of the Golden Lions the Under-19 Final between the Golden Lions and the Blue Bulls.

The appointments for the three Finals:

Currie Cup - Golden Lions vs Sharks:
Referee: Mark Lawrence
Reserve referee: Marius Jonker
Assistant referees: Stefan Breytenbach
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen 
Timekeeper: Kat Swanepoel

Under-21 - Blue Bulls vs Sharks:
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant referees: Rasta Rashivenga, Cobus Wessels
Television match official: Gerrie Coetzee
Timekeeper: Kat Swanepoel

Under-19 - Golden Lions vs Blue Bulls:
Referee: Rasta Rashivenga
Assistant referees: Tiaan Jonker, Reuben Rossouw
Television match official: JC Fortuin
Timekeeper: Kat Swanepoel