SANZAR's merit refs for 2009

The three SANZAR countries - South Africa, New Zealand and Australia - have made known their merit panel of referee for the 2009 Super 14.

The principle of merit rather than nationality or domicile was accepted unanimously by the three countries. At their  recent meeting in Sydney the choice of referees for the merit panel was made.

In the last Super 14, 19 referees were used. This time a panel of nine referees was chosen to referee  at least 75% of the matches in the 2009 Super 14. Because there will be referees away at Six Nations and then the possibility of injury and unavailability a reserve panel of seven referees has been named.

The panels will reviewed during the competition so that changes can be made, for example in the case of form loss.

Merit Panel (alphabetical order)

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 (alphabetical order)

Paul Marks (Australia)
Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Ian Smith (Australia)

Reserve Bench (alphabetical)

Phillip Bosch (South Africa)
Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Nathan Pearce (Australia)